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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
ATLANTA (AP) -- After a sleepless night with his new daughter,
Jason Terry looked perfectly rested Wednesday.
Terry scored 38 points, Nazr Mohammed added a career-high 24 and
the Atlanta Hawks rallied to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-102
Wednesday night.
Terry, who used to sleep in his uniform before games at the
University of Arizona, wore his wristband in the delivery room
Tuesday for the birth of his child, Jalayah.
"This is a great birthday gift for my little daughter," said
Terry, who equaled his career high, reached two other times this
season. "I was at the hospital all night and I'm heading back
there now."
The Hawks were heading to their fourth consecutive defeat, trailing
80-69 after Wesley Person's 3-pointer with 3:46 left in the third
period.
But Atlanta scored the final nine points of the quarter and
didn't let up in the fourth, starting off with a 13-2 spurt that
culminated with Mohammed's lay-in after a steal by DerMarr Johnson.
"There wasn't much happening," coach Lon Kruger said. "All of
a sudden, we get a couple of deflections, a couple of steals, got
some lay-ups. Our defensive activity sparked that."
Mohammed hit 10 of 11 shots from the field and eclipsed his
previous career high of 23 points set six days earlier at Dallas.
He also had two key offensive rebounds in the final minute to help
the Hawks hold on.
"J.T. (Terry) got hot," Mohammed said. "I knew they had to
step out on him. That opened up things for me down low."
Terry scored 24 points in the first half on 9-for-13 shooting,
including 4-for-4 outside the 3-point stripe.
Clarence Weatherspoon led the Cavaliers with 22 points. Lamond
Murray contributed 19 in a reserve role.
Cleveland lost for the eighth time in nine games and clearly
wilted after playing the previous night at home.
"I thought we had the game under control," said Matt Harpring,
who struggled to guard Terry. "But we lost energy at the end of
the third."
Atlanta's Lorenzen Wright and Chris Gatling of the Cavaliers
were ejected after a tussle with 4:23 left the second quarter.
They were battling for position under the Cleveland basket when
Wright grabbed Gatling in a bear hug. The players slammed to the
floor behind the baseline, knocking over a cameraman and nearly
spilling into the stands.
No punches appeared to be thrown. Players from both teams piled
on and Atlanta assistant coach Rick Mahorn, once among the league's
most physical players, ran from the other end of the court to help
pull Wright away.
The ejection of Wright left the Hawks with only nine healthy
players. He likely will be suspended for the game Friday night at New
York.
"That just means more minutes for another guy," Kruger said.
Game notes
Atlanta's Toni Kukoc will have laser surgery Thursday for
his ailing right foot. He is suffering from plantar fascitis, a
condition that has slowed him the past several seasons and will
keep him out the rest of the season. ... Cleveland hit 31 of 34 at
the foul line. ... All four of Mohammed's rebounds were at the
offensive end. ... Atlanta point guard Brevin Knight dished out a
season-high 12 assists. ... The Cavaliers lost their 12th in a row
on the road.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
RECAPS
Miami 102
Boston 97
Chicago 113
Washington 109
Atlanta 107
Cleveland 102
Detroit 99
Toronto 87
Indiana 100
New York 93
Phoenix 111
Dallas 106
Seattle 107
Golden State 101
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