Nov 7, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Hawks guad Jeff Teague (0) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Game Preview
The Atlanta Hawks are trying to right the ship after a 1-14 stretch by winning the last two games in a row and will try to carry their newfound momentum into tonight’s home game against the Denver Nuggets to make it three straight wins.
Jeff Teague is starting to regain his early season form when he was tearing up the league and led the way for the Hawks with 22 points and eight rebounds in Thursday night’s come-from-behind win against the last-place Milwaukee Bucks. He scored eight of Atlanta’s last 16 points down the stretch and put the exclamation point on the victory by throwing down a thunderous tomahawk dunk with 28 seconds remaining to seal win.
Sharpshooter Kyle Korver also came up clutch in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of his total 15 points in the final six minutes and giving the Hawks the lead on three separate occasions, including the final go-ahead basket on a 3-pointer (of course) at the 2:15 mark.
Denver won the first meeting of the season against the Hawks 109-07 in a closely contested matchup back on Nov. 7 at the Pepsi Center, but this time they’re playing at Philips Arena in Atlanta. This is the second-and-final game of the year between these teams.
FUN FACT:
Should Hawks beat Nuggets, would tie season-high win streak of three games - home wins over Lakers, Kings and Jazz. #ATLHawk
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) March 15, 2014
The game will be televised on NBA TV with tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
*** In other Hawks-related news, Lou Williams is expected back tonight after missing the past game and three practice sessions due to the birth of his daughter.
Quick Facts
Who?: Denver Nuggets vs Atlanta Hawks
What?: East vs West Showdown(Game #64, Home Game #30)
Where?: Philips Arena (Atlanta, GA)
When?: Saturday, March 15, 2014 – 7:30 PM (ET)
How?: NBA TV
Probable Starters
Atlanta Hawks:
PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Kyle Korver | SF: DeMarre Carroll | PF: Paul Millsap | C: Pero Antic
Denver Nuggets:
PG: Ty Lawson | SG: Randy Foye | SF: Wilson Chandler | PF: Kenneth Faried | C: Timofey Mozgov
Injury Report
Atlanta Hawks: Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder surgery), Al Horford (right pectoral muscle surgery) and John Jenkins (lower back surgery) are out.
Denver Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari (left knee ACL tear), JaVale McGee (left tibia stress fracture) and Nate Robinson (left ACL sprain) are out.
Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold
Records: Denver Nuggets (29-36) / Atlanta Hawks (28-35)
Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Won 2 | HOME: Won 1 | ROAD: Won 1 Denver Nuggets –> OVERALL: Won 2 | HOME: Won 2 | ROAD: Won 2
Home/Away Records: Hawks are (18-11) at home / Nuggets are (13-20) on the road.
Atlanta Hawks: Lukewarm. After a terrible 1-14 stretch, the Hawks are starting to right the ship and won the last two games in a row.
Denver Nuggets: Lukewarm. The Nuggets have virtually the same record as the Hawks and are also on a two-game winning streak.
Series Notes/Past Series Notes
The Hawks welcome the Nuggets to Philips Arena for the second-and-final contest between the teams this season. Denver won the first matchup 109-107 at home on 11/7. Paul Millsap led Atlanta in points (29) and rebounds (11). Ty Lawson led Denver in points (23) and assists (eight). The Nuggets have won two-in-a-row in the series, but the Hawks won the most recent contest in Atlanta on 12/5/12 (108-104). Atlanta owns a 41-37 lead in the all-time series, including a 30-7 edge at home.
LAST MEETING — NUGGETS 109, HAWKS 107 — DENVER, CO — 11/7/13
The Hawks jumped out of the gate to a 14-4 lead but the Nuggets fought back to even the score at 26 after one. Atlanta took control early in the fourth and took a 98-90 lead with 6:52 remaining. Denver finished on a 19-9 run to claim the win. Both Paul Millsap and Al Horford missed shots on the final possession that would’ve tied the contest. Millsap finished the night with 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Horford added 21 points to go along with nine boards and four blocks. Kyle Korver had 16, while Jeff Teague added 14 points and 11 assists. DeMarre Carroll put in 10. Ty Lawson paced the Nuggets with 23, followed by Nate Robinson, who put in 15. Atlanta dished out 31 assists and scored 20 points off 16 Denver turnovers. But the Hawks were just 13-19 from the charity stripe. Denver knocked down 14-25 from long range compared to 8-26 for the Hawks.
Common Threads
DeMarre Carroll played four games for Denver in 2011-12. Hawks Assistant Coach Darvin Ham played 35 for the Nuggets in 1996-97. JaVale McGee was teammates with Shelvin Mack (2011-12) and Cartier Martin (2009-12) with the Wizards. Paul Millsap and Randy Foye played together in Utah last season. Carroll and Darrell Arthur spent time playing together in Memphis. Martin and Anthony Randolph were teammates with Golden State in 2009-10. Nuggets broadcaster Scott Hastings wore a Hawks uniform from 1982-88. Denver Assistant Coach Lester Conner was on the Hawks’ coaching staff from 2010-13. J.J. Hickson attended Wheeler High School in Marietta. Hawks Assistant Coach Kenny Atkinson coached Wilson Chandler as an assistant with the Knicks in 2008-09.
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Information was used from the Hawks and Nuggets official gamenotes
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