Hawks’ Horford leaves game with ankle injury

Indianapolis — As if the Hawks’ could sustain another key injury with Josh Smith potentially out for up to a month with a high ankle sprain, Al Horford limped to the locker room with a sprained right ankle with 5:12 to play in the first quarter Tuesday night.

Horford never returned, staying in the locker room to soak his ankle in ice. He walked out of the locker room on his own after the game and said he would begin treatment Wednesday morning with the hope of playing against the Wizards.

Smith suffered a high ankle sprain in the first quarter of a Nov. 7 home victory over Toronto and began walking without crutches Friday. There has been no date set for his return.

The prospect of playing without both their starting power forward, Smith, and center, Horford, for any extended period of time has to be daunting for the Hawks, losers of four straight games after an impressive 6-0 start.