Nuggets 102 - 87 Hawks
Final
  for this game

Nuggets aim to exorcise Atlanta demons

Mar 16, 2011 - 2:56 PM (Sports Network) - The Denver Nuggets hope to exorcise their demons in the Peach State when they visit the Atlanta Hawks tonight at Philips Arena.

The Nuggets have lost three straight and 18 of their last 20 trips to Atlanta, but beat the Hawks, 100-90, on Feb. 28 this season at the Pepsi Center. Denver has won two in a row and four of six overall matchups with the Hawks.

Denver will continue a four-game road trip Wednesday and opened the trek with Monday's 114-103 victory in New Orleans. Ty Lawson had 23 points and 10 assists, Raymond Felton netted 22 points and Wilson Chandler chipped in 21 points and seven rebounds for the Nuggets, who have won three straight and nine of 11 contests.

"For the most we played great team defense when we needed to," said Chandler, who has scored 10 or more points in 12 of his last 14 games.

J.R. Smith posted 18 points in a reserve role. The Nuggets are 13-20 away from the Rocky Mountains this season and will also visit Orlando and Miami. They are currently seeded fifth in the Western Conference standings and a season- best 13 games above the .500 mark (40-27).

Lawson has posted three straight double-doubles, averaging 19.3 points and 10.7 rebounds in that time. In injury news for Denver, guard Arron Afflalo (hamstring) is questionable for tonight and forward Danilo Gallinari (broken toe) is listed as doubtful.

Atlanta will try to stay unbeaten on its six-game homestand and has won the first two tests of the residency. In Tuesday's 110-85 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, Joe Johnson made a season-high six three-pointers en route to 36 points and Josh Smith tallied 17 points and 14 boards in the win.

"I had my legs under me," Johnson said. "It was just a feeling. I was just letting it go. I was making quick moves in the post. You get a couple easy baskets, and the basket starts to open up a little bit."

Marvin Williams scored 16 points and Al Horford posted 15 for the Hawks, who shot a season-high 63 percent from the field and have won back-to-back games since a four-game losing streak. The Hawks will also host the Heat, Pistons and Bulls, and are 20-12 at home this season.

The Hawks sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, 2 1/2 games behind the fourth-seeded Orlando Magic.






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