Breaking: DeKalb Schools superintendent resigns after indictment for financial crimes
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks

Hawks' Joe Smith expects to play vs. Cavs

By
Dec 28, 2009

Hawks forward Joe Smith expects to play Tuesday against Cleveland.

Smith, who has missed the past eight games with a dislocated left thumb, took part in practice Monday morning at Philips Arena to test out the digit.

"I went through some contact stuff today, got it beat up a little bit a couple times, but it bounced back pretty good," said Smith, who iced down the thumb after practice. "I think I'll be ready."

Smith would be an important piece of the Hawks' game plan against the Cavaliers, which will come at the Hawks with big men Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao.

The Hawks also will play the Cavaliers Wednesday night in Cleveland.

About the Author

Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.

Follow Ken Sugiura on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (right) dribbles the ball during the second half of a basketball game against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Atlanta, at State Farm Arena. (Jason Allen/AJC)

Credit: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hawks could give starters a run in final exhibition game

The team has a Thursday game at home against the Rockets before their season opener in one week.

43m ago

Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher doesn’t feel like the same player from a year ago

After finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting last season, Zaccharie Risacher spent the offseason working out and playing with the French national team.

Hawks’ Asa Newell starts, capitalizes on opportunity in exhibition vs. Heat

Much like his time at Georgia, Newell leaned on his brother Jaden’s advice to hone in on the glass.

The Latest

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (right) dribbles the ball during the second half of a basketball game against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Atlanta, at State Farm Arena. (Jason Allen/AJC)

Credit: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Hawks could give starters a run in final exhibition game

43m ago

Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher doesn’t feel like the same player from a year ago

Hawks’ Asa Newell starts, capitalizes on opportunity in exhibition vs. Heat

Featured

Mathew Palmer, a former Delta Air Lines employee, at his home in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. Palmer was fired less than two weeks after writing a post on social media about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
EXCLUSIVE

Delta flight attendant fired for Kirk-related social post speaks out

Mathew Palmer, a Delta flight attendant, was suspended by the airline the day after writing a Facebook post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s voters are sticking with her through her political evolution

Congresswoman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s supporters are sticking with her even as she splits from Republican Party leadership

Truck driver arrested after 8th victim found in wreckage of I-85 crash

A tractor-trailer struck the back of a Dodge van, causing the van to go up in flames. The crash involved 6 vehicles, one of which was a van transporting 37 cats to a shelter.