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Hawks-Cavaliers Preview

Nov 20, 2015 - 10:41 PM LeBron James' brilliance was on full display when the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Atlanta Hawks in last season's Eastern Conference finals in a matchup of clubs at less than full strength.

These teams are meeting for the first time since that series and both are short-handed again.

Cleveland won't have three starters available and Atlanta is expected to play without star guard Jeff Teague in Saturday night's contest at Quicken Loans Arena.

James averaged 30.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 9.3 assists in last season's playoff series against Atlanta. It was a virtuoso performance for James, whose team was forced to play without Kevin Love while Kyrie Irving missed two games.

The Hawks (9-5) were without Thabo Sefolosha while Kyle Korver sat out the final two games with a high ankle sprain after Matthew Dellavedova fell on his leg in Game 2. In addition, DeMarre Carroll averaged 7.0 points on 32.4 percent shooting after injuring his knee in the opener.

Cleveland (9-3) has played the entire season without Irving and now will make do Saturday without two more starters in center Timofey Mozgov and guard Mo Williams. Mozgov could miss the next two weeks with a strained shoulder while Williams will miss his second straight with a sore right ankle.

Dellavedova made his first start in Thursday's 115-100 home win over Milwaukee, finishing with seven points and a career-high 13 assists. Mozgov was injured in that contest, meaning Tristan Thompson or Anderson Varejao will move into Saturday's lineup.

"One thing you can't control is injuries but one thing you can control is how you play with the guys who are out there," James said.

Atlanta has played the last three games without Teague, who averages 17.1 points and 6.5 assists and is out with a sprained left ankle. Dennis Schroder is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 assists starting in his place.

The Hawks ended a three-game slide with Wednesday's 103-97 home win over Sacramento. Paul Millsap had 23 points and a season-high 16 rebounds for his sixth double-double.

"We've got a group that's very prideful," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We've had a poor week for us so I think at some point they take it upon themselves, it's a credit to them."

Schroder had a season-high 22 points and six assists. Al Horford scored 17 and grabbed one rebound - his fewest since he had none Nov. 18, 2008, when he left after six minutes with an ankle sprain.

The Cavaliers have won 26 of their last 27 regular-season home games, including all six this season after James scored 27 and Love had 22 and 15 rebounds against the Bucks.

''This is how we need to play,'' James said. ''There's no ifs ands or buts. I think we answered the call on what we talked about. We're just trying to get better.''

J.R. Smith, who averaged 18.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting in the series against the Hawks, scored a season-high 18.

Atlanta captured three of four from Cleveland in the 2014-15 regular season.