Nets-Hawks Preview

The Atlanta Hawks missed a chance to get back in the win column in their first game this weekend but have the opportunity to bounce back at home, where they are undefeated in second half of back-to-backs.

Playing their only set of consecutive games at Philips Arena until the All-Star break, the Hawks look to improve to 6-0 in the second half of back-to-backs in Atlanta on Saturday night against the Brooklyn Nets.

Atlanta (23-17) scored just four points in the final 4:44 of regulation and six in overtime Friday in a 108-101 loss to Milwaukee. The Hawks opened their brief road trip with a 107-84 drubbing to Charlotte on Wednesday.

Paul Millsap scored a combined 43 points in those two games. He had 23 points and 10 rebounds against the Bucks before fouling out with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter.

The Hawks then lost starting forward Kent Bazemore when he fouled out in the opening minute of overtime.

"Obviously we would have preferred to have (Millsap) and (Bazemore), two of our better players, out there, but I think everybody felt that when overtime started we had enough to win. We just didn't get it done," guard Kyle Korver said.

Atlanta hosts Orlando on Monday and won't play back-to-back home contests again until a season-high five-game homestand Feb. 19-28. The Hawks, winners in five of six at home, are in a stretch where they're playing 15 of 23 on the road.

They'll try to open this short stay by earning a seventh consecutive home win over the Nets (11-29), a streak that includes last season's playoffs. The Hawks won that opening-round series 4-2 by taking three victories in Atlanta.

The Hawks and 5-0 in the second half of back-to-backs in Atlanta while the Nets are 1-5 in the second game of back-to-backs on the road.

Atlanta had a six-game regular-season win streak against Brooklyn end with a 90-88 defeat Nov. 17. The Nets scored the final four points to finish off that back-and-forth game.

Brooklyn, which lost 101-87 in Atlanta on Nov. 4, fell for the sixth time in seven games with Friday's 116-104 defeat to Portland.

The Trail Blazers took command for good with a 19-2 run in fourth quarter, and the Nets dropped to 1-2 under interim coach Tony Brown.

"Obviously it's still a work in progress. We're always learning and building," said center Brook Lopez, who had a team-best 25 points. "But we still have great spirits abound."

Lopez is averaging 25.7 points on 55.6 percent shooting and 10.3 rebounds in his last three regular-season games against the Hawks. He averaged 19.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in last year's playoff series.

Atlanta's Al Horford is averaging 20.6 points while shooting 70.1 percent in his last five regular-season games versus Brooklyn.

Horford had 18 points and eight rebounds Friday after being limited to two points and two boards in the blowout in Charlotte.