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Hawks look to extend season-high winning streak against Pacers

Dec 26, 2007 - 12:38 PM Indiana (15-13) at Atlanta (14-12) 7:00 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- A four-game winning streak has pushed the Atlanta Hawks into second place in the Southeast Division.

The Hawks will try to extend the season-long mark on Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers.

Atlanta is two games above .500 this late in a season for the first time since 1999, which also was the last time the Hawks made the playoffs.

"I really think that everybody - and when I say 'everybody,' I mean my teammates - they really believe that we can play with these other teams," Atlanta guard Joe Johnson said. "That's the biggest thing. That confidence will get you a long way in this league."

Johnson has averaged 28.8 points for the Hawks during the streak and leads Atlanta in scoring with 22.1 points per game.

The Pacers have won five of seven, including a 93-85 home victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Danny Granger scored 25 points and Jermaine O'Neal added 18 for Indiana.

"It was a grind-it-out win," Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said. "I don't care who the other team has or doesn't have - we've got to win."

Wednesday's game is the first of three games between the teams. Indiana swept the three-game series last year, including twice at home.