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Bibby returns to Atlanta as Heat visit Hawks

Mar 18, 2011 - 3:00 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of Southeast Division foes collide tonight in the Peach State, as the Miami Heat take on the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.

Miami went 3-3 on a six-game homestand and had a three-game winning streak stopped with a 96-85 loss to Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday from AmericanAirlines Arena. Durant scored 29 points to lead the Thunder, while Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade had 21 points apiece.

Bosh also grabbed 11 rebounds and LeBron James posted 19 points for the Heat, who are third in the Eastern Conference standings and got 10 points from reserve Mike Bibby, who will be making his return to Atlanta tonight.

"We have to make sure we put this behind us," said Bosh. "We lost today, but we can't let this affect our energy ... We just have to have that short memory and get back at it."

The Hawks traded Bibby to Washington on Feb. 23 in a five-player trade that brought Kirk Hinrich down south. Bibby then played just two games with the Wizards before reaching a buyout and eventually signing with Miami.

The Southeast Division-leading Heat are 21-12 as the guest this season and have lost two in a row away from home.

Atlanta has lost five of seven games overall and will continue a six-game homestand Friday night versus the Heat.

The Hawks had a modest two-game winning streak stopped and fell to 2-1 on the residency with Wednesday's 102-87 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Zaza Pachulia had 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and both Josh Smith and Jamal Crawford scored 13 points in a losing effort.

"It's tough," Crawford said after the loss. "We had a chance there in the first half. We were playing well. I think in the fourth quarter we cut it to three. After that it kind of got away from us."

Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Atlanta, which dropped to 20-13 in Dixie this season and sits fifth in the conference standings.

The 2010-11 season series between the Hawks and Heat is tied at a game apiece, but Miami has won four of the previous five meetings between the division rivals. Miami has lost five of six games at Philips Arena.