GAMENIGHT

Brooklyn Nets (23-15) @ Atlanta Hawks (21-16)

Phillips Arena 7:30

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

The Nets travel to Atlanta to play the first game of a home and home set with the Hawks tonight.  Brooklyn’s Joe Johnson faces his former team for the first time and he is 20 of 42 from 3-point range while averaging 20.1 points in the last seven. The Nets will see some familiar faces when they play against Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro and Deshawn Stevenson of the Hawks who were included in the Joe Johnson trade.  The Nets are trying to win their eighth straight game and pull within one game of the division leading New York Knicks.

[quote_box]”We’re just kind of feeding off each other, man,” said Johnson, who is hitting 38.5 percent of his 3-pointers on the season. “We’re in a nice rhythm right now and hopefully we can keep it this way. It’s a lot of fun to watch and I’m sure guys are having a great time in this locker room.”
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The Hawks have won 10 of 12 in the series with the Nets but have lost six of seven overall and are not playing good basketball at all.  To make matters worse, the Hawks suspended leading scorer Josh Smith on Wednesday morning for “conduct detrimental to the team,” and he will sit out this game.

Williams hopes to continue his perfect free throw shooting as he has now hit 40 straight free throws.

Matchup of the Game:  Joe Johnson vs Hawks Backcourt

Joe Johnson will surely be very hyped up to face his former team so he will need to handle his emotions and stay within the offense and let the game come to him.  The Hawks backcourt of Devin Harris and Jeff Teague will do their best to slow down Johnson as well as Deron Williams. This battle will go a long way in telling who will win this first game in Atlanta.

Nets:

Gerald Wallace (bruised ribs) is a game-time decision

Hawks:

Anthony Morrow (sore lower back) is questionable