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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Rookie DerMarr Johnson got some playing time Saturday night and helped the Atlanta Hawks break a five-game losing streak.
Johnson had career highs of 19 points, nine rebounds and five steals to spark the Hawks past the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-90.
"I haven't been playing much, so what I've done is practice my game," said Johnson, who played a career-high 39 minutes. "I try to come out hot and earn minutes."
He had totaled 36 minutes in Atlanta's previous nine games.
"That was his best game, by far," Hawks coach Lon Kruger said. "He's played well in practice, but has not been able to transfer it to games. Tonight he did."
Jason Terry scored 20 points to lead five Hawks in double
figures.
"We were definitely hungry," Terry said. "Losing five in a
row will do that. I came out aggressively, looking to attack."
So did Johnson. The No. 6 pick in the draft scored six points
early in the second half to help Atlanta to a 70-52 lead. Johnson
put an exclamation point on the run with a resounding slam dunk
after a crossover dribble left Cavs defender Jim Jackson
flat-footed.
"Hitting a couple of outside shots set that one up," Johnson
said. "He had to respect the jumper, so I went inside."
Jackson, acquired from Atlanta on Jan. 2, was not surprised.
"I saw his ability first-hand in practice," Jackson said. "He
is going to be tough."
Jackson and Andre Miller each scored 18 points to lead
Cleveland. The Cavaliers got as close as 94-88 with 1:56 to play
but lost for the 13th time in their last 18 games.
"If we don't come out with focus and intensity we don't have a
chance," Cavs coach Randy Wittman said. "We played like it was a
summer league game."
Atlanta used two significant runs to open a 54-43 halftime
advantage.
Terry scored the final six points of an 11-0 spurt late in the
first quarter for a 23-14 lead.
"We did not come out with energy," Miller said. "That all
starts with me keeping the tempo going. That didn't happen so we
lost."
In the second quarter, Chris Crawford scored eight consecutive
points and 10 overall during a 21-4 run that put Atlanta up 52-34.
Crawford left for good with 3:16 left in the half with bruised
buttocks and Cleveland countered with a 9-0 streak just before
halftime to get back into it.
Terry, Johnson, Crawford and Alan Henderson all had 10 points at
halftime for Atlanta.
Game notes
Guard Brevin Knight, dealt to Atlanta for Jackson, missed
his second game since straining his right groin Tuesday night
against Boston. He missed 19 games earlier with a right knee
injury. ... Wittman said rookie center Chris Mihm, who missed his
10th game with a strained right knee, "is progressing well and
might be back next week." ... Cavs forward-center Chris Gatling
strained his right quad in the first half and did not return. ...
Terry is averaging 26.7 points in three games against Cleveland
this season. ... Clarence Weatherspoon had 16 rebounds for the
Cavs.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
San Antonio 99
Utah 86
Toronto 90
Chicago 80
Minnesota 93
Portland 80
Miami 81
Orlando 59
Houston 110
Charlotte 97
Atlanta 101
Cleveland 90
Washington 89
Phoenix 82
Detroit 108
Milwaukee 103
Denver 102
Dallas 100
Seattle 106
New Jersey 97
Sacramento 101
LA Clippers 89
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