Atlanta Hawks to play Thunder in OKC
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Hawks have won their last two games, are well-rested, and look to complete the season sweep of the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight in OKC.
The Atlanta Hawks look to complete the season sweep of the Oklahoma City Thunder when they take on Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka at the Chesapeake Energy Center in downtown Oklahoma City tonight.
Atlanta beat OKC on November 30th, 95-90, at Philips Arena in a game that went down to the wire. Though Westbrook played out of his mind like he almost always does, Jeff Teague and the Atlanta Hawks did enough late to beat the Thunder in their lone trip to Atlanta this season.
-= Related: Atlanta Hawks survive in Dallas, 98-95 =-
Last season in this two-game series, the home team won both games and that could happen again as the Hawks are coming off last night’s thrilling victory over Dallas at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder are 13-8, are leading the Northwest Division over Utah by two and a half games, and have the third best record in the West behind Golden State and San Antonio.
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OKC is 9-3 at home this year and winners of seven of their last ten games. However, this team does have a losing record against Eastern Conference foes this season at 5-6. Atlanta has already won seven games against the West this season and head coach Mike Budenholzer is well-versed in how to lasso the West form his time in San Antonio.
Entering the season, I saw this current three-game stretch of @Dallas, @Oklahoma City, and home versus San Antonio in four days time as one of the tougher weeks the Atlanta Hawks will play this season. Going 3-0 in these three games seemed a bit out of reach, but beating Dallas on the road gives the Atlanta Hawks the chance to hopefully pull it off.
While the players in the locker room seem poised to take on the Thunder after last night’s win over the Mavericks, I’m a little concerned about playing the Thunder in OKC as part of a back-to-back. Chesapeake Energy Arena is an electric atmosphere and the crowd may play a factor in this game should either Durant or Westbrook have the hot hand tonight.
Next: Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Dec. 10
Playing three of the four best teams in the West in four days is another crazy part of the Atlanta Hawks’ early season schedule. At least a date in Oakland with the Golden State Warriors isn’t on this slate. Will that team ever lose? Here’s to getting the season sweep of the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. Let’s Go Hawks!