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Williams, Hawks ease past Cavs

Mar 28, 2011 - 2:11 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Marvin Williams scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds, as the playoff-bound Atlanta Hawks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 99-83, at Quicken Loans Arena.

Al Horford posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards for the Hawks, who secured a postseason berth with Saturday's home win over New Jersey.

Josh Smith totaled 13 points and eight assists while pulling down a season- best 18 rebounds for Atlanta, which played without leading scorer Joe Johnson. Johnson suffered a sprained right thumb against the Nets.

"I thought we really played well together," said Atlanta head coach Larry Drew. "I thought we really shared the basketball."

Baron Davis supplied 19 points and dished out seven assists off the bench for the Cavaliers, who snapped a seven-game home skid Friday against Detroit.

The Hawks got off to a quick start, scoring the game's first eight points, and Horford made a layup to expand the lead to 17-6 with 3:55 remaining in the first quarter. Cleveland, though, trailed by only three after closing the frame on a 12-4 surge.

"We just didn't come out with the energy and aggressiveness that we needed to come out with for whatever reason," said Cleveland head coach Byron Scott.

Atlanta pushed its lead back to double digits, and Kirk Hinrich drained a three-pointer to put the Hawks up 52-39 at halftime.

Down 56-41, the Cavaliers scored eight straight points to trim their deficit to seven before Atlanta countered with a 7-0 run. The Hawks led 74-66 at the end of the third quarter, and Williams knocked down a trey to put the visitors ahead 86-71 with seven minutes remaining. Atlanta maintained a double-digit cushion the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Hinrich had 13 points and five assists...J.J. Hickson finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland...Atlanta never trailed...The Hawks avoided a fourth consecutive road loss...Atlanta swept the three-game season series and has won four straight over Cleveland...The Cavaliers fell to 1-12 against the Southeast Division this season.