Al Horford, Josh Smith, Devin Harris, Kyle Korver and DeShawn Stevenson, the lengthy list of players who missed the Hawks’ previous game, all were available for Wednesday’s game against the 76ers.
All those players were cleared from various ailments after missing Saturday’s loss to the Spurs. Smith (knee) also missed a Monday practice. Horford (hamstring), Harris (foot), Korver (undisclosed) and Stevenson (back-to-back games) are healthy enough with three games remaining in the regular season following Wednesday’s contest. Harris missed the previous three games after having a platelet-rich plasma injection in a toe on his left foot that has bothered him much of the season.
The Hawks were without Johan Petro, who left the team Sunday to return to Florida to be with his expectant wife.
Setting the tone: A day after meeting with Horford, Smith and Jeff Teague, coach Larry Drew said he expects the three leaders to get the Hawks back on track heading into the playoffs.
“As we wind this thing down, those are the three guys I’m going to put the onus on,” Drew said. “A game like (Wednesday), the three of them have to come out supercharged so that these other guys can follow their lead. My bench guys, John (Jenkins), (Shelvin) Mack, DeShawn (Stevenson) and Dahntay (Jones), they play hard. They are going to give you their best effort.
“I want (the leaders) to understand that these (other) guys look at them when they are out there and not playing at 110 percent. I’m not saying they do it all the time, but at this stage of the season, we cannot have any type of letdown in that area.”
Etc.: Drew said the team's first-round playoff matchup will determine how he uses his bench in the postseason. Typically, coaches will shorten their bench in the playoffs as starters play more minutes. Drew said much will depend on matchups. … Hawks management has not approached Drew about his contract, which expires at the end of the season. General manager Danny Ferry has previously stated that he will use the season to evaluate all aspects of the organization. Drew is in the final year of his three-year contract.
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