Williams’ bad back a cause for concern

Word that Marvin Williams could be out for weeks with a lower back injury swept through the Hawks’ locker room like a storm before Monday’s game against New Orleans at Philips Arena.

“Man, that’s a tough pill to swallow right there,” Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson said. “Every time we get over one hurdle it seems like another one pops up.”

Williams sustained the injury late in Saturday’s home win over Detroit and was held out the entire fourth quarter.

He is scheduled to see specialists this week, Hawks coach Mike Woodson said, and his status will not be updated until after those visits.

“This is a huge blow,” Woodson said before Monday’s game. “Marvin’s been such a big part of what we’re doing. So we’ll have to regroup and find ways to deal with it until we can get him back out there.”Williams is the Hawks’ fourth leading scorer this season, averaging 14.0 points, a career-high 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists while starting in all 59 games he’s played.

Veteran swingman Mo Evans started in his place against the Hornets. But Woodson said he would tweak his lineup accordingly, depending on the matchups.

“We’ve all got to be ready,” Evans said. “We’re down to the homestretch and we need every guy in uniform to be ready to step up and do his part.”Williams was in the Hawks’ locker room before the game but did not speak with the media.

CALLING ALL CARS: Woodson said that while Williams is out the Hawks will go deeper into their rotation to pick up the slack.

That means more of Acie Law IV, Solomon Jones and Mario West for the foreseeable future.

Law was on the floor during a 10-0 second quarter run that the Hawks used to take control of Monday’s game. He scored three points and dished out two assists during that stretch, igniting the crowd on a beautiful pass to Al Horford for a dunk that finished a fast break.

“If you’ve got a uniform you better be ready to use it,” Woodson said. “And that goes for every guy on this team.”

MAMA SAID: After wearing a headband all season, Hawks’ reserve guard Flip Murray has gone without it the past two games.

When asked before the Monday’s game why he’s ditched his headgear, Murray said, “my mother told me to stop wearing it.”