If the Atlanta Hawks are going to beat the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, they're going to have to do it without C/F Al Horford. The Atlanta big tweaked his right ankle in the third quarter, went back to the locker room to have it retaped. He returned to action late in the frame, but quickly headed back to the bench. Horford, who was soaking the injury in a bucket of ice will not return.
Big Al had six points and nine boards before leaving the game.
Horford is the third starter on both teams that was able to answer the bell in this one. Marvin Williams watched this one from the bench due to a back injury and Chris Bosh missed this this one with an ankle injury.
The two teams played a spirited third quarter, with both the Heat and the Hawks trading the lead a number of times in the frame. The Hawks held a 58-55 edge at the end of the frame.
Joe Johnson has 13 points and Mike Bibby chipped in 11 for Atlanta, which was shooting a smidgen under 40-percent (27-for-68) from the field.
Dwyane Wade leads all scorers with 21 points and LeBron James poured in 15 for Miami.