Horford out indefinitely with knee injury

Zaza Pachulia has lived the last year and a half by the words “stay ready.”

Now that motto will be tested.

With Hawks starting center Al Horford out indefinitely with a bone bruise in his right knee, Pachulia will have to carry the load in the middle.

And he might have to do it for a while. Horford will miss the Hawks’ three-game Western Conference road trip this week and possibly much more.

“We’re looking at anywhere from five to 10 days,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “So it puts some extra pressure on Zaza, Solomon [Jones] and Randolph [Morris]. And we’re probably going to have to look at playing a little more small ball with Josh Smith playing some at center.”

Horford was injured in the second half of Friday’s loss in Orlando. A scheduled MRI exam after Saturday’s practice revealed the bone bruise.

In 33 starts this season, Horford averaged 10.8 points, a team-high 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 blocks.

But no one picked up that slack Sunday.

The Hawks were smashed inside, outscored 56-36 in the paint and outrebounded 39-24, while Pachulia and Jones combined for seven points and six rebounds in a 109-94 loss the 76ers.

Asked if anyone stepped up Sunday, Woodson answered, “No, not at all.

“And I don’t know how long Al’s going to be out so I can’t put it on Al Horford. But when [Josh Smith] was out for [12 games earlier this season] we had guys step up and that’s how it’s going to be now that Al is out.”

Bench patrol

While the Hawks’ bench played a minimal role in Sunday’s outcome, the 76ers’ bench sprung to life behind huge games from Lou Williams and rookie big man Marreese Speights.

Williams, the former South Gwinnett star, finished with 11 points and six assists, while Speights added 12 points, eight rebounds and a block.

Speights had two more rebounds than any Hawks player, starter or reserve.

“He had some really good coaching at Florida,” 76ers coach Tony DiLeo said of Speights, who was Horford’s backup at Florida two years ago.

“He has a really high basketball IQ and makes a lot of instinctive plays on the court that most big men just don’t.

“Not only is he a good offensive player, but he blocks shots and plays defense, too.”

No second chances

While the Hawks were busy watching the action fly past them for much of the game, the 76ers were busy making it happen on both ends of the floor.

The 76ers destroyed the Hawks with second-chance opportunities, piling up 19 points to Atlanta’s three.