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Nets, Hawks set for showdown in London

Jan 16, 2014 - 2:26 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - NBA basketball is back in London, as the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks tangle across the pond Thursday afternoon at 02 Arena.

The Nets and Hawks are a part of the league's 2013-14 Global Games, which represents the most NBA teams to play internationally in a single season in the history of the league.

"It's great to be able to represent Atlanta ... first of all," Hawks general manager Danny Ferry said. "We're proud to be here and we'll have Atlanta across our chest. I think it's a nice bonding thing for our group."

Atlanta is one of the top teams in a weak Eastern Conference, but has lost four of its last six games. The Hawks had a two-game winning streak stopped with Sunday's 108-101 loss at Memphis and were led by Paul Millsap's 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. Millsap is averaging 20.5 points per game in his previous two.

Jeff Teague tallied 20 points and five assists for Atlanta, which suffered its third straight road loss and came within 93-90 late in the game before the Grizzlies pulled away.

"Our guys competed," Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We just need to do that for longer and harder. It wasn't our sharpest night."

The Hawks, who received 15 points from both Mike Scott and DeMarre Carroll, made 47.5 percent of their shots, but sank only 9-of-27 3-pointers. Memphis took advantage of 15 Atlanta turnovers by converting them into 25 points. The Grizzlies also had advantages of 50-42 in points in the paint, 21-13 in second chance points and 20-14 in fast break points.

Kyle Korver drained one 3-pointer for nine points at Memphis and has at least one trey in an NBA record 107 consecutive games. He is averaging 15.3 ppg in his last three. Scott, meanwhile, is posting an average of 13.3 points in his past four contests.

Atlanta is the designated home team in London and has a record of 14-5 as the host. It will return to the United State for another home matchup with the Miami Heat on Monday.

Carroll is not with the Hawks in London because of the birth of his daughter and is averaging 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds.

Brooklyn's current three-game road trip will resume in the capital city of the United Kingdom.

"Everybody's pretty exhausted, you know long flight, but eager to get started, get back to work," Nets forward Joe Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to this trip. I've never been here so it's my first time and I'm going to make the most of it."

The Nets were hoping to head to England with a six-game winning streak, but they had the surge halted with Saturday's 96-80 loss at Toronto in the opener of this trek. Paul Pierce led Brooklyn with 15 points and Johnson added 11 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Before Saturday's game, Johnson was averaging 27.3 ppg in his previous three. The Nets are 7-3 this season when Johnson scores 20 or more points.

Alan Anderson finished with 13 points for the Nets, who had a season-high five-game winning streak snapped. It was Brooklyn's first loss of 2014.

"The guys fought hard, but we came up short. We came to win a game, we put ourselves in position to win, but sometimes the ball doesn't go your way," said Nets coach Jason Kidd.

Brooklyn is only 5-13 as the guest this season and still has New York to visit on Monday. The Nets will not have center Brook Lopez (foot surgery) or point guard Deron Williams (ankle) for this international skirmish with Atlanta. Lopez will most likely miss the season and Williams did not travel with the team. He is averaging 13.6 points and 6.9 assists this season.

The Nets are holding the opposition to 91.7 ppg in the last six after giving up 102.4 ppg through the first 31. They kept the Hawks under 90 points in a 91-86 victory last Monday at Barclays Center, as Johnson netted 23 points to lead the way. Teague and Millsap finished with 16 points apiece in that one for the Hawks, who are still 7-3 in the past 10 meetings in this series.

Brooklyn will host Atlanta on April 11 and has lost nine of the past 11 matchups as the visitor between the teams.