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Hawks look to down undefeated Celtics

Nov 9, 2007 - 3:35 PM Atlanta (2-2) at Boston (3-0) 7:30 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- If the Atlanta Hawks are going to be taken seriously, they will have to pass a tough test on Friday.

The upstart Hawks hope to capture back-to-back wins when they visit the undefeated Boston Celtics in an Eastern Conference matchup.

In his fourth season, Atlanta coach Mike Woodson seems to have his club heading in the right direction and looking like their ready to end their nine-year postseason absence.

In their last outing, Josh Smith had 22 points and 10 boards and Marvin Williams added 20 and 12 as the Hawks stunned the Phoenix Suns with Wednesday's 105-96 victory at home.

Williams, the second overall selection in 2005, has seemed to finally live up to his promise. He is averaging 17.7 points in four games this season.

The Celtics, meanwhile, are enjoying early success with the "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

On Wednesday, the trio combined for 71 points as Boston routed the Denver Nuggets 119-93 with 38 of those points coming in their franchise record-setting first quarter.

"We are just scratching the surface on what we could be," Pierce said. "We are no where where we want to be, but we are getting closer each and every day."

Boston suffered a blow to its reserve when forward James Posey went down with lower back spasms midway through the second and did not return. He is listed at day-to-day.