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Wizards look to start new winning streak against Hawks

Dec 21, 2007 - 2:41 PM Atlanta (13-12) at Washington (13-11) 7:00 pm EST

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Caron Butler and the Washington Wizards want to forget about their last game and start a new winning streak Friday when they host the Atlanta Hawks.

The Wizards had a four-game winning streak end Wednesday with a 95-84 home loss to Chicago, despite Butler's triple-double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Washington's recent success has come despite health issues. The Wizards are missing point guards Gilbert Arenas and Antonio Daniels due to injury, while Butler and Antawn Jamison have been battling illness.

The Hawks have been streaky in December, wrapping a pair of three-game winning streak around a pair of defeats. Atlanta is coming off a 117-111 overtime victory over Miami on Wednesday, as Marvin Williams and Joe Johnson each scored 26 points.

The Hawks, at a game over .500 after 25 games, have a winning record at the latest point since 1998-99, the last time they reached the playoffs.

The teams have met once this season, with the Wizards posting a 101-90 victory at Atlanta on November 11. It was Washington's first victory of the season after an 0-5 start.