Washington Wizards guard Richard Hamilton practiced at full speed Monday for the first time since partially tearing his right groin against the Orlando Magic on Dec. 21.

Hamilton is not expected to play when the Wizards host the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night, but he is projected to rejoin the team after a 17-game absence Thursday in Cleveland, the Washington Post reported.

"I feel comfortable mentally and that's where you get your rhythm," Hamilton, who was averaging 19.8 points before getting hurt, told the Post. "I've been doing a lot of shooting and things like that. I've been watching a lot of tape, so hopefully when I get back out there I'll be ready."

Coach Doug Collins and some of the assistant coaches liked what they saw of Hamilton during a brief scrimmage Monday, but Hubert Davis will continue to start in Hamilton's place.

"Hubie is the one who can't wait for him to get back," Collins said of Davis, who has played as a reserve for most of his nine-year NBA career. "He keeps looking at him every day and saying, 'Are you getting back or not?' When we can get Rip back there, all it's going to do is strengthen our bench. It's going to revitalize Hubert a little bit. If there's anybody who's cheering for him to get back, it's Hubert Davis."

Washington has gone 8-8 without Hamilton, who is regarded as one of the league's best midrange scorers and was named the NBA's Eastern Conference player of the week only days before he got hurt.