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Grizzlies-Hawks Preview

Dec 15, 2009 - 7:12 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Memphis (10-14) at Atlanta (17-6), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Whether it's their starters or substitutes, the Atlanta Hawks are finding ways to score and win.

The Hawks look for their fifth straight victory Wednesday night when they host a Memphis Grizzlies team that's trying to win three in a row on the road for the first time in four seasons.

Atlanta (17-6) opened its three-game homestand with Sunday's 130-107 victory over New Jersey. Making his first start of the season for the ill Marvin Williams, Maurice Evans scored a season-high 22 to lead seven Hawks in double figures.

"He's a veteran and has been patiently waiting," coach Mike Woodson said. "That is key to having a good team. I can't play everybody 30 minutes, so the minutes you get, you have to make the most of them."

The subs have accounted for 42.1 percent of Atlanta's scoring during its winning streak. Jamal Crawford has provided a major boost off the bench in his first season with the Hawks, averaging 16.5 points and 2.8 assists.

"Our guys came off the bench, and we extended the lead," Woodson said Sunday after his team improved to 10-2 at home. "The last three games it has been that way. I hope we can keep it up."

Woodson's bench received plenty of playing time in the last game against the Grizzlies, a 98-90 loss in Memphis on April 15. With the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs locked up, starters Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Al Horford and Williams did not play in the season finale as the Grizzlies snapped a five-game slide to Atlanta.

Memphis (10-14) has lost three in a row at Philips Arena but looks for its first three-game road winning streak since April 12-19, 2006.

In their last road game, the Grizzlies defeated Miami 118-90 on Sunday. It was Memphis' most lopsided win away from home since beating Portland 130-102 on Feb. 23, 2007.

The Grizzlies, though, are looking to bounce back from Monday's 110-105 loss to Boston. Rudy Gay had 23 points and O.J. Mayo scored 21, including a jumper with 20 seconds left to trim the lead to 107-105, but Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer with 17.5 remaining.

"We couldn't get stops at the end," said Zach Randolph, averaging 23.1 points and 11.8 rebounds in six career games in Atlanta. "The last 2 or 3 minutes, they made plays, and we couldn't get stops."

Memphis' job likely won't get any easier when it faces a Hawks team that's among the league leaders with 105.8 points per game.

"We were moving the ball well all night, as we have been the last few games especially," Horford said Sunday of the Hawks, averaging 29.7 assists in the last three games. "And we got open looks, which we knocked down consistently. It's nice to see every guy in the scoring column."