"Both guard Kirk Hinrich (thigh) and forward Yi Jianlian (knee) returned to practice on Monday at Verizon Center, and the two said they felt encouraged by their continued progress returning from injury.

Hinrich sported a pair of athletic glasses that he said were for protective purposes, not corrective. Hinrich said he had an eye exam and was told he should wear the glasses and that they had nothing to do with the black eye he picked up against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 22.

"Today was the first day with them," Hinrich said. "Definitely not used to them yet, just trying to get adjusted to wearing them."

The only player not on the practice floor was Josh Howard. Andray Blatche rolled his ankle on a fast break late in the 30-minute scrimmage portion of practice that the media watched, but said he would be fine.

Yi, who played five scoreless minutes against Indiana on Dec. 31 but did not play against New Orleans, said he hopes to get a few minutes on Wednesday at Philadelphia."