Thread: Atlanta Hawks vs Brooklyn Nets – (Updated) Complete Game Day Info
By David Menze
Josh Smith goes up for a block against Brook Lopez. (Kevin C. Cox/NBA/Getty Images)
Game Preview:
The Atlanta Hawks head into Brooklyn hoping to even the four-game series with a win tonight against the Nets in Barclays Center.
The Hawks won the first meeting of the season 109-95 in Atlanta but dropped the next two games (in Brooklyn 94-89, then back in Atlanta 93-80).
Former Hawk Joe Johnson is set to return to the lineup for the Nets after sitting out Tuesday’s 108-98 home win over the New Orleans Hornets with a bruised left heel. He returned to practice Thursday and has said he is “definitely” going to play Sunday, although coach P.J. Carlesimo has put him on a minutes restriction limit after resting for the past five days. Johnson is averaging a modest 13.6 points per game on 33.3 percent shooting against his old team this season, 3 points less than his 2012-13 average.
This is a pivotal matchup for both squads as the teams are separated by just two games in the Eastern Conference standings. Brooklyn is currently in 4th place, while Atlanta is in a three-way tie for 5th place with Boston and Chicago.
The Nets could move into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division if they beat the Hawks and the New York Knicks lose to the Los Angeles Clippers. After tonight’s game, Brooklyn embarks on an eight-game road trip.
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Quick Facts
Who?: Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets
What?: Series Finale (Game #66, Road Game #34)
Where?: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
When?: Sunday, March 17, 2013 – 8:00 PM (EST)
How?: ATL — SportSouth HDTV / 93.7 FM … BK — YES HDTV / 101.9 FM
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Probable Starting Lineups
Atlanta Hawks:
PG: Devin Harris | SG: DeShawn Stevenson | SF: Kyle Korver | PF: Josh Smith | C: Al Horford
Brooklyn Nets:
PG: Deron Williams | SG: Joe Johnson | SF: Gerald Wallace | PF: Reggie Evans | C: Brook Lopez
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Injury/Inactive Players Report
Atlanta Hawks: Zaza Pachulia (sore right Achilles) and Lou Williams (torn right ACL) are out.
Brooklyn Nets: None.
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Current Records/Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold
Records: Atlanta Hawks (36-29) … Phoenix Suns (38-27)
Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Won 2 / HOME: Won 2 / ROAD: Lost 5 … Brooklyn Nets –> OVERALL: Won 1 / HOME: Won 2 / ROAD: Lost 1
Home/Away Records: Hawks are (15-18) away … Nets are (22-13) at home.
Atlanta Hawks: Lukewarm. Atlanta has won two in a row (at home) but is still on an active five-game road losing streak.
Brooklyn Nets: Lukewarm. After losing the first two games of the month, Brooklyn has bounced back and has won four of their last five games overall.
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Season/Past Season Series
The Hawks head to Brooklyn for the second time in the fourth-and-final game with the Nets. The Nets have taken two-of-three contests against Atlanta this year, including the last two. The Hawks posted a 109-95 home triumph on 1/16 before Brooklyn notched a 94-89 home win on 1/18 and a 93-80 decision at Philips Arena on 3/9. Jeff Teague has recorded two 20 point/10 assist outings in three games against the Nets, while Al Horford has tallied two point/rebound double-doubles in two games played. Brook Lopez is averaging 20.0 points in the three games versus Atlanta. The Hawks lead the all-time series 89-67, with the Nets holding a 46-32 edge in home games.
LAST MEETING — NETS 93, HAWKS 80 — PHILIPS ARENA (ATL,GA )– 3/9/13
The Hawks got off to an 11-1 start before the Nets finished the quarter on a 22-12 stretch to knot the contest at 23 after one. Brooklyn had the hot start in the second, and outscored Atlanta 28-14 (including 4-7 from downtown) to take a 51-37 lead into the locker room at half. The lead reached 19 to finish the third (76-57), and Atlanta trailed by double digits the remainder of the way. Al Horford led the way with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Josh Smith added 12 points. Johan Petro and John Jenkins put in 10 each. Andray Blatche and Brook Lopez paced the Nets with 18 apiece, and Deron Williams posted 17. Atlanta held a 44-43 advantage on the glass, but Brooklyn turned 17 Atlanta turnovers into 20 points, while the Hawks forced just nine Nets miscues. The Hawks had 18 fast break points compared to seven for Brooklyn.
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Common Threads
Devin Harris (part of 2007-08 through part of 2010-11), Johan Petro (2010-12) and DeShawn Stevenson (2011-12) are all former Nets. Larry Drew was an assistant coach with the Nets in 2003-04. Lester Conner spent time playing for the Nets from 1988-91. Joe Johnson spent seven seasons in Atlanta (2005-12), scoring over 10,000 points. Jerry Stackhouse saw action in 30 games for the Hawks last year. MarShon Brooks is a Tucker native (Tucker HS). Stevenson and Andray Blatche were teammates with Washington from 2006 through part of 2009-10. Stevenson (part of 2003-04 in Orlando) and Kyle Korver (2010-11 with Chicago) have both been teammates of Keith Bogans. Korver (Philadelphia for part of 2007-08), Lou Williams (Philadelphia 2007-09) and Johan Petro (Seattle for part of 2005-06) have all teamed-up with Reggie Evans. Anthony Tolliver (Golden State for part of 2009-10) and Kyle Korver (Chicago 2010-12) were teammates with C.J. Watson. Korver and Deron Williams teamed together with Utah (part of 2007-08 through 2010).
Information was used from the Hawks and Nets official gamenotes