AUBURN | Isaac Okoro took the first big step in returning to the lineup this week.

Auburn’s talented freshman missed the last two games after injuring his hamstring late in a 95-91 overtime win over Alabama Feb. 12.

“Isaac did practice with us yesterday. He did not go 100 percent, but he did move around,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “He will go again with us today. His status for Saturday is sort of still pending, but at least he did practice."

Without Okoro, Auburn lost road games at Missouri and Georgia by a combined 22 points. The Tigers have five regular season games remaining starting with Saturday morning’s home matchup against Tennessee.

“We’re approaching it with an abundance of caution,” Pearl said. “If you’re in a practice situation and able to be in control of your movements, that’s a real positive thing for his rehabilitation. When you get into a game and you’re just reacting to things, that’s when things like a pulled muscle, you know, you just can’t quite ever duplicate that in practice. We’ll see how he does.”

Okoro is averaging 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block per game. Pearl also considers him the team’s best defender.

“Isaac is incredibly valuable to us on the offensive and defensive end,” Pearl said. “His man never scores. Put him on whoever you’re going to put him on at Georgia, at Missouri or against Tennessee, that guy’s not scoring. He’s our best help defender, taking charges, getting vertical, ending possessions with rebounds.

“Offensively, he’s another tough cover and another break-down guy that can get to the rim. So we miss him a lot.”

The 13th-ranked Tigers, 22-4 overall and 9-4 in the SEC, will try to snap their two-game losing streak Saturday against Tennessee at 11 a.m. CT on CBS.