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Johnson, Hawks defeat struggling Cavs

Dec 23, 2010 - 3:40 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Joe Johnson scored 23 points with seven assists and the Atlanta Hawks extended their home winning streak to eight games with a 98-84 victory over Cleveland.

The Hawks overcame a seven-point deficit in the first quarter and never trailed in the final 34:14 of the game to remain unbeaten at Philips Arena since a November 22 loss to Boston.

Al Horford scored 18 points with eight rebounds in the win and Josh Smith had a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards. Marvin Williams added 17 points.

Antawn Jamison led Cleveland with 23 points and Mo Williams had a double- double, scoring 18 with 11 assists, but the Cavaliers fell to 1-12 in their last 13 games.

Cleveland's only win since November 27 came in overtime against the Knicks on Saturday.

Atlanta made its first nine shots of the third quarter, stretching a three- point lead at halftime into a 13-point lead at 69-56. Johnson scored eight points in the 20-10 run, which was capped by a Williams layup midway through the quarter.

"We ran into a little bit of a buzzsaw," said Cleveland head coach Byron Scott. "We played pretty good defense and they just hit shots."

The Cavaliers cut the deficit to six, but Atlanta carried an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter at 77-69 and the game was never closer than six in the final 12 minutes.

Atlanta improved to 11-5 at home this season. The Hawks are just 8-7 on the road.

"Here at home we've pretty much got it figured out," said Johnson, who was playing his fourth game since returning several weeks early from right elbow surgery. "Now we just have to figure it out on the road."

Cleveland led 22-17 after the first quarter, but Atlanta scored the first seven points of the second to move ahead.

The Hawks went ahead by as many as nine, but only carried a 49-46 lead into halftime after Williams hit a running three-pointer at the buzzer.

Game Notes

Atlanta shot 51 percent from the field while Cleveland shot just 42 percent...Hawks guard Jamal Crawford missed his fifth straight game with a sore back.