Thomas to practice Sunday, return to game action soon

It's been more than six weeks since Tyrus Thomas suffered a broken left arm in the Berto Center weight room.

He'll finally return to practice today, but coach Vinny Del Negro does not expect him to be ready to play in games either Monday or Tuesday. The Bulls host Sacramento, then visit New York.

"I probably wouldn't want to do that even if he feels great tomorrow, just because he hasn't practiced. I want to make sure that's healed up. Let him get hit a few times, let him get fatigued a little bit and let's be smart about it."

A more realistic target for Thomas is next Saturday's home game against New Orleans, which follows three days off during the holiday.

Jamal joins winner: Ex-Bulls guard Jamal Crawford has played in 623 games during his NBA career without ever appearing in the playoffs - the longest current streak in the league.

But unless Crawford is traded or injured, or the Hawks (19-7) collapse completely, the streak will end this season.

"I don't take it for granted at all," Crawford said before Saturday's game. "I cherish it and make the most of it. I haven't won like this since high school and college. That was probably the most fun I've had playing basketball and this definitely takes the cake."

Crawford, who is averaging 16.2 points, has been the Hawks' instant offense off the bench. He got used to the role by imagining that he walked into the middle of a pickup game during the summer and had to call "next".

"That way, I tricked myself and it's been working," Crawford said.

College ties: Hawks star Joe Johnson visits Chicago every summer. Not so much for the chance to work out, but to visit his college buddy from Arkansas, Bulls guard Jannero Pargo.

"Honestly, I just come up here to hang out with him and while I'm up here, we always work out together or go play ball," Johnson said. "But I've noticed there are always a lot of NBA guys out here. So it's a win-win - a great friend of mine and still getting to come out here and work out and compete against some of the best talent in the world."

Bull horns: Atlanta power forward Joe Smith, who played briefly for the Bulls, is out with a thumb injury. ... Hawks starting forward Josh Smith and Marvin Williams shot a combined 3-for-19 in Saturday's game.