A report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution states that third-year forward Josh Smith will have hernia surgery Tuesday and could miss as many as four weeks.
Smith joined starting center Zaza Pachulia (sprained elbow), reserve swingman Josh Childress (foot) and backup point guard Tyronn Lue (groin) on the bench for Saturday night's game against the Pistons. Starting point guard Speedy Claxton (back spasms) didn't even make the trip.
"I've played through it for the past two months," Smith told the newpaper. "I was pushing through it, trying to the best I could to help my team. But I've got to shut it down now."