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Hawks host Knicks in home opener

Nov 3, 2006 - 2:33 PM New York (1-0) at Atlanta (0-1) 7:30 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Hawks host the New York Knicks in their home opener Friday.

The Hawks have a two-game winning streak here against the Knicks. But they will have to rebound from an 88-75 setback to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday - their eighth consecutive season-opening loss.

Joe Johnson scored 25 points and Zaza Pachulia added 15 and 12 rebounds for Atlanta, which shot just 33 percent (26-of-78) from the field. Josh Childress had a solid all-around game, posting 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Things went differently for rookie Shelden Williams, who missed both shots and failed to score in 16 minutes, and offseason acquisition Speedy Claxton, who went 0-of-5 and committed three turnovers.

The Knicks started the campaign on a positive note, but had to play some extra basketball. They battled through three overtimes to edge the Memphis Grizzlies, 118-117, on Wednesday.

Quentin Richardson, who scored 31 points, sank the game-winning foul shots with 11 seconds left in the third overtime. Jamal Crawford netted 21 points and Stephon Marbury added 19 and eight assists for New York, which surrendered a 19-point fourth-quarter lead.

Hawks center Lorenzen Wright should be in the lineup after serving his one-game suspension for a fight in the preseason.