Al Horford’s long-awaited return to the court ends tonight.
The center will play in the Hawks’ exhibition game against the Heat in Miami. He will likely be on a minutes restriction but it will his first action since suffering a torn right pectoral muscle Dec. 26. The injury limited Horford to just 29 games last season.
The Hawks have been bringing Horford along slowing with the expectation that he will play in some exhibition games and be ready for the regulard-season opener on Oct. 29.
Coach Mike Budenholzer said Monday that Horford would likely play in at least one of the team’s three exhibition games this week. The Hawks also play at the Bulls Thursday and versus the Pistons Saturday.
“Excited to play tonight!” Horford tweeted early Tuesday afternoon.
Horford will join the regular starters Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap in the lineup.
Horford said he has felt good in his return to contact practice and recently worked his way up to full five-on-five contact scrimmages.
Tonight will also be the debut of free-agent signee Kent Bazemore. The guard/forward has also been brought along slowly during training camp after undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his foot suffered last season with the Lakers.
Pero Antic will also see his first minutes of the preseason. The center has been out since he suffered a broken nose during training camp. He has been fitted for a protective mask that he must wear at least until November.
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