Hawks point guard Mike Bibby went to the locker room with a sprained left thumb with 11:16 to play in the fourth quarter Wednesday and did not return to the game with the Hawks already holding a commanding lead over the Bucks at Philips Arena.

Bibby injured the same thumb that cost him the first 36 games of the season following surgery to repair a torn ligament.

He was injured Wednesday on a drive to the basket late in the third quarter but stayed in the game. But when he attempted a long jump shot minutes into the fourth, he immediately turned to Hawks coach Mike Woodson and signaled to get him out of the game.

Bibby jogged off the floor holding his thumb and went straight to the locker room for X-rays, the results of which were negative. He was gone by the time the media was allowed into the locker room after the game. But his teammates made clear their concerns about their starting point guard's health.

"We've definitely got to have him, so hopefully he's fine and can go Friday [against Chicago]," Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson said. "If not, this is the NBA. The next man has to step up and be productive."

• NO DEFENSE: Defense is simply no longer a part of the Hawks' game-day package, at least not in the first half of many of their recent games. Wednesday night against the Bucks was no different, as the Hawks surrendered 60 points by the break, though they led by five.

They don't lock in early enough or often enough to take opposing teams out of whatever it is they're trying to do on offense, which is one reason the Hawks have allowed 50 or more points by halftime in 14 of their 21 games since the All-Star break, including each of the past three.