Ask Hawks point guard Mike Bibby a question and he'll give you a direct answer.

"Unless there's something torn or broken I'm playing," he said.

Those were Bibby's last words as he left Philips Arena Thursday for an appointment with a specialist who was going to examine his sprained left thumb.

Bibby was right. He will play tonight when the Hawks host Chicago at Philips Arena.

The results of Thursday's MRI exam on his thumb were negative. That's the same thumb that cost Bibby 36 games this season after surgery to repair a torn ligament.

It's also the same thumb that cost him the final 11 minutes of Wednesday's win over Milwaukee. Bibby left the game after being hit on his hand while driving to the basket. X-rays taken after he left the game were negative.

"I'm playing, man," Bibby said as he walked to his car Thursday. "I don't miss games."

With what the Hawks have at stake every night, they can hardly afford to be without Bibby. They are locked into a battle for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Bibby has averaged 13.4 points, 6.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 22 games since joining the Hawks before last month's NBA trade deadline.

Bibby had 16 points and three assists against the Bucks before leaving. Hawks rookie point guard Acie Law IV finished the game and might have to play a bigger role if Bibby has any more complications.

"I'm ready to do whatever is needed," Law said. "I'm always ready."

Having a veteran point guard with Bibby's extensive playoff experience (51 games) clearly provides the Hawks an edge.

"Obviously we feel better knowing that he's going to be out there," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "This guy plays through pain and he plays through injuries. If you look at his history you'd know that's always been the case."

Bibby's played with a protective wrap on his left wrist and hand since joining the Hawks (31-40). Wednesday wasn't the first time he's taken a hit on that hand. But it was the first time he hasn't been able to shake it off.

"I saw him holding it at the end of the third quarter but he went back out there so I thought he was fine," Hawks captain Joe Johnson said. "The next thing I knew he was going to the locker room. But when we got here this morning and he came out on the floor to walk through some of the stuff we went over in practice, I knew right then he was going to be ready to go."