Atlanta Hawks (36-29) @ Brooklyn Nets (38-27)

Barclays Center 8:00

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

Brooklyn has had four days off since their last game, a win at home 108-98 over the New Orleans Hornets, and hope to stay sharp in a big game against the Atlanta Hawks tonight. This will be the last home game for the Nets for a while as they go on a very important 17 day “circus road trip” that could decide their standing.

This game will be for a tie in the Atlantic division after the New York Knicks lost again on the west coast to go 0-4 so far on their trip.  It has been a long time since the Nets have had an opportunity to be on top of the Atlantic this late in the season, 2006/2007 to be specific.

The Nets beat the Hawks in Atlanta 103-90 just eight days ago and played stellar defense limiting the Hawks transition buckets while running their offense to perfection.  Brook Lopez and Andray Blatche scored 18 points each, and Deron Williams scored 17 to go with six assists.

Williams has looked much better since the PRP treatment he received right before the All-Star break.  His coach knows it is pretty easy to see that DWill is in a groove and playing with much more confidence.

[blockquote]”He’s managing the game very well,” Carlesimo said. “He’s also being a lot more vocal at practices, at timeouts and before and after games. It’s a good thing.”[/blockquote]

Joe Johnson will see his first action in a week after sitting out the last game with a sore left heel.  Johnson will be playing his former team for the last time this year with Brooklyn winning two of first three games but himself not playing well in any of those games.  Johnson is averaging only 13.7 points on 33.3 percent shooting in the Hawks games although he should be raring to go tonight after the rest.

The Hawks won consecutive home games after a three-game slide without Josh Smith and Jeff Teague. They beat the Lakers and the Suns and are hoping to get Teague back tonight for this matchup in a limited role.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Brook Lopez vs Al Horford

Brook Lopez had a nice game in the last matchup with the Hawks and scored 18 points to go with nine rebounds and got Al Horford in foul trouble very early.  Lopez has his confidence back after coming out sluggish post- all star break and the team is benefiting.  Horford is a double-double machine, 17 points and 10 rebounds a game, for the Atlanta and also provides them with a nastiness that they need badly.  His defense is underrated as he is playing center at 6’10 and is always the smaller player in most matchups.

STAT FOR TONIGHT: Al Horford has scored in double-figures in 24 consecutive games, the second longest streak of his career behind a 33 game stretch in 2009-10.

Nets:

Joe Johnson (sore heel) is probable

Hawks: