• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Carter, Nets look to exact revenge against Hawks

Feb 7, 2007 - 5:49 PM New Jersey (22-27) at Atlanta (18-29) 7:00 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- All-Star Vince Carter have made a habit of losing close games. They look to exact a measure of revenge against one of the teams who recently broke their hearts.

The slumping Nets look to snap their four-game skid and avenge a last-second loss Wednesday when they visit the Atlanta Hawks.

A preseason favorite in the Atlantic Division, New Jersey has lost seven of its last nine contests and trails first-place Toronto (25-23) by 3 1/3 games. Five of the Nets' seven losses over that stretch have been by two points or less.

Arguably the toughest loss of that stretch came Sunday, when the Nets dropped a 101-99 overtime decision at home to the Hawks.

Carter drilled a game-tying 3-pointer with three seconds remaining, but Atlanta's Tyronn Lue connected on a buzzer-beating jumper to hand New Jersey another devastating last-second loss.

The Nets followed up the disappointing defeat with a 100-98 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Monday.

Carter scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for New Jersey.

Atlanta looks to rebound from Monday's 90-83 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Joe Johnson scored 27 points and Josh Smith added 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Hawks, who have lost two straight and three of their last five contests at Philips Arena.