Of the Hawks many impressive victories this season, perhaps none was more so than the win over the Trail Blazers in Portland earlier this month.
The Hawks handed the Trail Blazers a 115-107 defeat on Jan. 3, one night after a victory over the Jazz to start a three-game West Coast road trip. It was part of the Hawks’ current 12-game road win streak.
The rematch is set.
The Hawks (38-8) host the Trail Blazers (32-14) Friday night at Philips Arena riding a 17-game win streak.
“On both ends of the court, that was a night when we were playing at a pretty high level,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “When you play a team like Portland, you are going to have to be good on both ends. … I always remember the screw ups so the fact that I only remember a few is a good sign.”
The Hawks led by as many as 20 points in that first meeting with the Trail Blazers, who are currently third in the Western Conference. Paul Millsap led seven double-digit Hawks scorers, including each starter, with 27 points.
LaMarcus Aldridge, who will play after postponing thumb surgery, had 30 points and 12 rebounds. Guards Wesley Matthews (19 points) and Damian Lillard (16 points) combined to go 6 of 17 from 3-point range. All be will focuses of the Hawks.
“They pose a big problem,” Al Horford said. “They are a team that shoots a lot of 3’s. They have a lot of great players, like LaMarcus Aldridge. We are going to have our hands full. It’s a game I think our fans are going to make a big difference for us. We need them to come out and support.”
The Hawks are 12-2 against the Western Conference.
“It was a night where we did it and now we have to try to do it again,” Budenholzer said of the win over the Trail Blazers. “It doesn’t mean anything that we did it in the past.”
Notes
* Starting small forward DeMarre Carroll did not practice Thursday. “He is fine,” Budenholzer said. “He is just getting a little work on his body.” …
* Reserve guard Shelvin Mack did some shooting and court work as he rehabs from a left calf strain. It appears he will miss additional time. The team provided no official update on his condition meaning he remains out. “He still has a lot of progress to make,” Budenholzer said.
* Horford and Kent Bazemore joined to host area youth at a screening of the soon-to-be released SpongeBob movie. The movie will be in theaters Feb. 6, but the Hawks players will be join by about 300 children from Boys & Girls Clubs and Covenant House and Operation P.E.A.C.E. at Atlantic Station.
“I’m a huge SpongeBob fan,” Bazemore said. “I thought it would be nice to take a group of kids to go check in out and keep your hand in the community.”
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