Josh Smith told reporters his ailing knee is feeling better and he will play during Game 3 against the Boston Celtics if he feels anywhere close to full health.
Per Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
J. Smith on knee: "It's getting better and better each and every day. I will see how it feels at shootaround [Fri.]."
J. Smith: "I have a high threshold for pain. If I feel like I can go a little bit I'm going to step out on the floor."
J. Smith has yet to run on knee: "At shootaround I will probably try to go a little bit harder than normal and see how it feels.
The talented lefty departed Atlanta's Game 2 loss with what the team labeled a sprained ligament in his knee. He was initially labeled doubtful for Game 3 and probable for Game 4, according to the Journal Constitution.
Coach Larry Drew called Smith "a warrior" and said he knows Smith is itching to play, but added:
"If he can't go we don't want him out there limping around and injuring the knee."
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