ATLANTA (AP) – Al Horford scored 19 points and Kyle Korver hit two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter after struggling much of the night, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 106-97 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night in a game could be a preview of what’s to come in the playoffs.
LeBron James and the Cavaliers entered the season as the overwhelming favorite in the Eastern Conference, but the Hawks (49-12) are running away in the standings. They won their sixth in a row and for the 42nd time in the last 48 games.
Clearly inspired on night when Hall of Famer and former Hawks star Dominique Wilkins was honored by the team, Atlanta got plenty of balance and showed again it might be capable of doing something that never happened during No. 21’s brilliant career – win a championship.
James was held to 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting.