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Hawks could face Bucks without injured Bibby

Mar 28, 2008 - 10:34 AM Chicago (28-43) at Atlanta (31-40) 7:30 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Hawks hope to have the services of point guard Mike Bibby for Friday's showdown with the Chicago Bulls.

The Hawks are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the New Jersey Nets.

Bibby injured his left thumb in Wednesday's 115-96 victory over Milwaukee and is listed as day-to-day with a sprain. He had surgery last offseason to repair a torn ligament in the same thumb.

Atlanta has won five of its last seven games to climb into the final playoff spot. Rookie Acie Law IV, who has averaged 4.5 points in an injury-riddled season, will have to step in if Bibby is unable to play.

"You learn from a guy like Mike, the way the offense flows, and how much things run better on the floor," Law said. "You can't help but get better."

The Bulls trail the Hawks by three games with 11 to play. Chicago is coming off a 121-99 loss at Philadelphia on Wednesday.

"I really don't know what it is," Bulls rookie forward Joakim Noah said. "We have so much potential on this team. I feel we play with energy, it's just we don't play together."

Chicago has won 13 of the last 14 games in the series.