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Hawks-Cavaliers Preview

Apr 1, 2010 - 7:48 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Atlanta (48-26) at Cleveland (59-16), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Hawks have transformed from a feisty eighth seed two seasons ago to a legitimate Eastern Conference contender.

To take the next step, they will almost certainly have to figure out how to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers' first crack at back-to-back 60-win seasons comes Friday night as they seek their ninth straight victory over the Hawks, who have been unable to carry their recent home success to the road.

Cleveland (59-16) is on its way to owning the NBA's best record for the second consecutive season after winning 50 games just five times in the franchise's first 38 years.

Atlanta (48-26) improved by 10 victories in 2008-09 from the 37-win team that took Boston to the limit in the first round the previous season, but was bounced in four games in the second round by the Cavaliers.

The Hawks are on their way to their first 50-win season since 1997-98, but need to prove they can beat Cleveland. Both meetings this season were tight, but the Cavaliers won 95-84 in Atlanta on Dec. 29 behind 20 points from Mo Williams, then got a season-high 48 from LeBron James a night later in Cleveland to win 106-101.

The Cavs trailed by as many as 17 in the second half of the most recent meeting before rallying. The Hawks weren't just upset with their late collapse, but also with the shot clock, which failed to reset after an offensive rebound with 1:41 left - costing Atlanta an estimated five seconds.

The Hawks, who got 35 points from Joe Johnson, issued an appeal for the final seconds to be replayed but were denied.

Atlanta has lost three straight and five of seven on the road, but should be confident coming to Cleveland after a convincing win. Johnson scored 25 points Wednesday to lead seven Hawks in double figures in a 109-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Hawks' ninth straight at home.

Atlanta has a one-game lead for the No. 3 seed, which would allow it to avoid the Cavs in the second round.

"It's an important win," forward Josh Smith said. "We're trying for that third spot. We need games like this every night on a consistent basis."

The Lakers' loss in Atlanta combined with Cleveland's win over Milwaukee on Wednesday reduced the Cavs' magic number to two.

For the second straight game, though, Cleveland had to overcome a lethargic effort with sixth man Anderson Varejao sidelined by a sore hamstring. After pulling away late to beat Sacramento 97-90 on Sunday, the Cavaliers rallied from a four-point deficit with three minutes left to top the Bucks 101-98.

"We don't want to take games off or get relaxed," forward Antawn Jamison said. "We know we have to stay focused and stay aggressive. We have to keep that edge."

This will be Atlanta's first look at Jamison in a Cavaliers uniform, though they are plenty familiar with his work. Jamison averaged 23.2 points and 12.7 rebounds in his last nine games against the Hawks while with Washington.

Varejao, who hit his first career 3-pointer to put the Cavaliers up with 17 seconds left Dec. 30 against the Hawks, will likely sit out again.

The teams meet April 14, the last night of the regular season, in Atlanta.