The Atlanta Hawks claimed a huge win on Friday night as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Philips Arena, with Al Horford leading the way in a 106-97 win.
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The hosts got off to a quick start as they led 36-19 after the first quarter, but Cleveland fought their way back into contention over the next two quarters with LeBron James finishing the game with 18 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
However, it wasn’t enough from the ‘King’ to secure a win for the visitors, as the Cavs fall to 39-25 for the season while the Hawks improve to 49-12 with their playoff spot already secure as they continue to lead the way in the Eastern Conference.
Four of their five starters ended the game with double figures, while Dennis Schroder added 15 points off the bench in another sensational team performance from Mike Budenholzer’s men.
While this may have counted for little in the context of the regular season, it was certainly a huge moment for the Hawks in terms of beating a direct rival that many believe will be the team to beat in the post-season.
Having defeated them at home, it could give Atlanta a psychological edge as they continue their relentless march towards claiming the Eastern Conference top seed. For now, they will be delighted with their ability to execute against an elite level team and that will surely give their confidence a boost moving forward.
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