Paul Millsap took part in a full contact practice on Tuesday, a sign the Hawks’ All-Star power forward is nearing a return to game action before the start of the regular season.
Millsap has been held out of much of training camp after undergoing a non-surgical procedure on his right knee last month. The plan was for Millsap to miss the first three weeks of camp, including at least the first two exhibition games. He missed the team’s third preseason contest on Monday.
“I feel good,” Millsap told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after practice Tuesday. “I was able to get some contact in today. It felt good to get back out there with the fellas. Now, it’s just getting the reps and getting the conditioning up.”
The undisclosed procedure was necessary after Millsap experience persistent swelling in his knee during voluntary workouts and 5-on-5 scrimmages. The Hawks brought him along slowly and Millsap first went through a 3-on-3 workout on Monday.
“It’s been good,” Millsap said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen after today but every other day its felt great – running on the treadmill, getting some shots up, individual workouts. We’ll see what happens (Wednesday).”
The Hawks will wait to see how the knee responds before making a decision on whether Millsap will play in Thursday’s home exhibition game against the Pistons. Coach Mike Budenholzer and Millsap both said they would like the forward to play in at least a couple exhibition games. The Hawks have four games remaining before they open the regular season against the Wizards on Oct. 27. Budenholzer said at least two and maybe three exhibition games for Millsap would be ideal.
“I think you want a few just to get your legs up under you,” Millsap said. “It’s hard to simulate that in practice with the bright lights and an opposing team is going to play you a little differently than your teammates. No matter how many times you come in here with your guys, you can’t simulate what an opposing team is going to do, how they are going to play you, how they are going to rough you up.”
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