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Knicks-Hawks Preview

Dec 31, 2009 - 8:08 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

New York (12-20) at Atlanta (21-10), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Hawks haven't lost three straight all season, and Friday night's home game against the New York Knicks may help them avoid that fate.

The Knicks, though, are one of three teams to beat the Hawks at Philips Arena, and New York will be trying to build on a promising December as the clubs open 2010.

The Hawks (21-10) have been among the Eastern Conference's elite through much of their impressive start, but they showed there's work still ahead of them after being swept by Cleveland in a home-and-home set this week.

After a 95-84 home loss Tuesday, the Hawks fell 106-101 at Cleveland the next night. Joe Johnson scored 35 and Atlanta led by eight entering the fourth quarter Wednesday, but the team's stumble down the stretch included a controversial turnover when the shot clock was not reset on one possession.

"This is a game we should've won," Johnson said. "We had some unfortunate events that happened on the court and it happens. Unfortunately, we have to deal with it."

The Hawks should have a good chance to bounce back considering they are 12-3 at home. The Cavaliers and Orlando were the unsurprising victors in Atlanta, but the Knicks' 114-107 win there Dec. 4 was more unlikely.

Atlanta forward Josh Smith was ejected from that game in the second quarter after earning two technical fouls, and his absence from the defensive end may have helped New York shoot a season-high 57.7 percent from the field. Smith ranks third in the NBA with 2.3 blocks per game.

"It definitely makes a big difference," Knicks guard Chris Duhon said. "Usually you come off the pick and roll to the rim, No. 5 is back there. If he doesn't stop you he's going to make you alter your shot."

The Hawks will hope for a better defensive effort after struggling to contain LeBron James, who scored 48 on Wednesday. That game was just the sixth time in the last 23 that Atlanta has allowed 100 or more points in regulation.

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni also was not thrilled with his team's defensive play in a 104-95 loss Wednesday to the lowly New Jersey Nets, who shot a season-high 51.2 percent.

"We were happy just scoring baskets and trading baskets," D'Antoni said. "Hopefully it's a learning experience and we understand that we can't have lows like that. We can't come out soft and that's what we did."

It ended an 11-game streak of the Knicks holding their opponents to less than 100 points. Despite losing three of its last four, New York (12-20) showed progress while going 9-6 in December.

David Lee has been at the center of the Knicks' recent success. He had 18 points and 17 rebounds in the win at Atlanta and is averaging 22.7 points and 14.3 boards in his last seven games while shooting 63.6 percent from the field.

New York has held former Knick and top Atlanta reserve Jamal Crawford to an average of 11.5 points in two games this season - more than five below his average.

The Hawks won 114-101 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11.