Hawks' Millsap returns to practice, game-time decision Wednesday

Even if it was a meaningless game in the dog days of the regular season, the Atlanta Hawks have to be at least a little concerned after inexplicably losing to the New York Knicks on Monday night. 

The Hawks aren't exactly storming into the playoffs - they're just 7-7 in their last 14 - and they still don't have a clear sense of when All-Star power forward Paul Millsap will be ready to return from a right shoulder sprain. 

The good news is that Millsap, who has missed the past five games, took an important step on Tuesday, participating in a full team practice for the first time since suffering the injury, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Millsap will travel with the team to Chicago for Wednesday’s regular-season finale against the Bulls, and his status for the game will likely be determined after morning shootaround.

"I feel OK and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow," he said. "Right now I was able to shoot, move around, run but tomorrow may change. It’s still a little tender in areas."

Millsap is understandably eager to return and get some time in before the playoffs begin, but he's also being careful not to get too far ahead of himself. 

"We have to look at the bigger picture," he said. "I’d like to be out there with my teammates but I need to be as healthy as I can."

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer echoed that sentiment. 

"We are going to see how he feels and make the decision that is best for all of us," Budenholzer said. "There is that side of it, that appreciation for, he’d like to play a game and get a feel for it. That’s part of the decision-making process."

In his second straight All-Star season for the Hawks, Millsap is averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, three assists, and 1.8 steals in 32.8 minutes per game.