PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Plagued by injuries to key players this season, the Philadelphia 76ers got some good news Monday after activating point guard Eric Snow from the injured list.
Snow has not played this season after injuring his left thumb in a preseason game. He underwent surgery on Oct. 23, having a plate, two pins and five screws inserted into the thumb.
Getting Snow back healthy is key for the Sixers, who have played without NBA Most Valuable Player Allen Iverson and Sixth Man of Year Aaron McKie for key stretches this season.
Iverson has missed the last two games with a thumb injury for the defending Eastern Conference champions, who are mired in their second five-game losing streak of the season. Iverson is expected to return for Tuesday's game at Atlanta.
Philadelphia, which also has been without starting power forward Derrick Coleman (knee) for the last two games, is in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
To make room for Snow on the roster, the Sixers placed rookie Speedy Claxton on the injured list with a left ankle sprain.
Claxton suffered the injury in Saturday's 92-83 loss to Memphis and had to be helped from the court.
Claxton, who was a first-round pick in 2000, missed all of last season with a knee injury. In 19 games, he is averaging 8.7 points and 3.4 assists.
Snow played the entire NBA Finals on a fractured right ankle and underwent surgery in late June, his second procedure in six months on the ankle. He suffered the injury in Game Four of the Eastern Conference finals against Milwaukee when he landed on the foot of Bucks guard Sam Cassell.
The 6-3 Snow responded with 18 points in the next game and averaged 12.6 points and 6.0 assists in five games as the Sixers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
On Dec.5, 2000, Snow suffered a stress fracture in his ankle in a road game against the Lakers. He returned after the All-Star break and averaged 9.8 points and 7.4 assists in 50 games last season.
