Atlanta forward Josh Smith took an IV and got a massage before Saturday's game against Indians as a precaution after cramping up against San Antonio Friday night.
Smith sustained the leg cramp blocking a shot by the Spurs' Tim Duncan, tried to play through it and then went to the bench when it continued to bother him.
He went back into the game and then cramped up in his quadriceps muscle. Smith, who said he'd cramped up one other time this season, has never had the problem before in his career.
"I should be OK," he said.
He played 16 minutes in the first half with no visible distress.
He's not the only Hawk playing through a nick. Guard Mo Evans and forward Marvin Williams are both continuing to recover from knee injuries.
Lineup re-tweak
Against Indiana Saturday night, coach Larry Drew went back to the lineup of Al Horford at center, Smith and Williams at forward and Mike Bibby and Evans at guard. For the past three games, Drew had started Jason Collins at center, Horford and Smith at forward and Williams and Bibby at guard.
Drew said he moved Horford back to center to try to exploit the advantage in mobility that he could have over Pacers center Roy Hibbert. However, Drew said that when Joe Johnson returns from elbow surgery, he could envision the team still starting Collins at center in a lineup that would probably include Bibby, Johnson, Smith, Horford and Collins.
"That could very easily happen," he said.
Healing up
Johnson has begun rehabilitating his right elbow, which required surgery last week to remove a loose body. Johnson said he has been doing about 90 minutes daily of rehab, mostly resistance work to improve flexibility and strength.
"It's coming along pretty good," he said. "We've got a ways to go, though."
Out of sick bay
Forward Zaza Pachulia returned to action after sitting out Friday night's game with the flu. Prior to the game, he looked less than 100 percent. Pachulia said he got sick despite taking a flu shot. Said Pachulia, "Maybe next year, I'll do two."
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