Hollis Thompson expected to return for Sixers on Tuesday

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Hollis Thompson is finally ready to suit up for the Sixers again.

After missing the team’s last 11 games with an upper respiratory infection, Thomas is expected to return on Tuesday when the Sixers host the Eastern Conference-best Atlanta Hawks.

Thompson practiced with the Sixers on Tuesday before head coach Brett Brown gave him the good news.

“Today was a short practice and afterwards Coach Brown said, ‘You’re playing tomorrow,’” Thompson said.

The original plan was to send Thompson to play for the Delaware 87ers of the D-League to regain his form.

"I was going to go there to get my rhythm back and game shape," Thompson said.

But things change quickly in the NBA, and Thompson will instead go right back to work with his Sixers teammates.

Brown’s words were sweet music to Thompson's ears. It has been 24 days since he last played in a game.

Thompson said he actually took part in a couple of games when the illness first hit because he didn’t know what he was feeling. He was shut down before the team faced the Orlando Magic back on Dec. 21.

"I didn't know what it was, but I knew I was messed up," Thompson said. "I am super excited to be back on the court. I couldn't play for a long time and I was bored."

In addition to being bored, Thompson found himself losing weight.

"I weigh 204 now. I was 194,” Thompson said of how much he weighed at the peak of the illness. “I want to be 205. Now I make a conscious effort to eat all the time. I can eat anything — shakes, snacks — you name it."

Thompson has been putting up jumpers prior to tipoff at the Sixers’ last two games, both last-second victories. He can tell the team is improving and enjoying the process.

"I got a chance to sit down and watch us," Thompson said. "It has been fun to watch because I can tell we are getting better. We are playing together. We are having fun, and we are definitely getting better."

Thompson is averaging 7.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 28.0 minutes a game this season. His shooting numbers have taken a dip from his rookie season. Last year, he shot 46.0 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from three-point range. Those numbers are down to 39.0 and 33.3 percent this season, respectively.

Despite that drop, Thompson still provides the Sixers with one of their only long-distance threats, which is why he started 21 of the 25 games he’s appeared in this season. Brown will ease him back into the rotation before contemplating whether to use Thompson as a starter again.

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