Bulls 117 - 129 Hawks
Final
  for this game

Surging Hawks to face stumbling Bulls

Dec 27, 2008 - 12:51 PM Chicago (13-16) at Atlanta (18-10) 7:00 p.m. EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Hawks may have a hard time getting noticed with the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic dominating the Eastern Conference. Still, their play merits attention.

The Hawks will be searching for their fourth straight win and seventh in the last eight games when they face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.

Atlanta has benefited from the strong play of guard Joe Johnson, with the All-Star leading the team in scoring and contributing in different ways.

Johnson recorded his second career triple-double on Tuesday, collecting 20 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds to lead a 99-88 win over Oklahoma City. Johnson has shot 40 percent or less from the field in his last four games but has managed to scored at least 19 points in each.

The Bulls have dropped two straight, including a 90-77 setback against the Miami Heat on Friday. They shot 37 percent (31-of-84) and committed 15 turnovers.

Adding injury to insult, forward Luol Deng was forced to leave the game with a sprained ankle and is not expected to play Saturday.

The Hawks took the first meeting between the teams back on November 11, 113-108, as forward Al Horford scored 27 points and pulled down 17 rebounds.






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