Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks

The Cleveland Cavaliers survived a game brawl and their horrendous play, Monday night, to chalk up one in the win column over the Atlanta Hawks, 108-102. This was Cleveland's (28-36) second win over the Hawks (20-43) in the past week, thrashing the Hawks 112-80 in their previous meeting.

The win was the Cavs fourth straight and pulled them into a tie with Boston for the seventh seed. LeBron James scored 34 points in the win, while also adding 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Carlos Boozer added 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 20 points and 4 blocks while coming up with a key loose ball during the final minute of the game.

It seemed as though the Cavs were well on their way to another Hawks beat-down, as they led Atlanta 34-15 after one quarter. The first quarter was filled with highlight reel dunks and jumpshots. Then emotions and tempers flared. The Cavs ugly play on the floor almost became ugly fighting.

Early in the second quarter with Cleveland leading 34-17, LeBron James stole a Stephen Jackson pass and sprinted up the court and missed the layup. James grabbed his own miss and went for a put back, but was pushed bu Jackson while in the air and landed on his backside. James and the Cavs reacted, while Jackson was issued a Flagrant foul. Cavs players had to be restrained on the bench during the incident. They would have to be restrained a second time when Jackson mouthed off to Boozer next to the Cavs bench. Cavs coach Paul Silas stood next to Jackson offering a few words of advice after the incident.

The fould may have roused the Cavs tempers, but it was the Hawks' play that caught fire. Atlanta proceeded to go on a 34-16 run to end the half and take a stunning 51-50 lead over Cleveland.

After Silas challenged his team during halftime, the Cavs responded to Atlanta's play and intensity. On back-to-back jumpers by Jeff McInnis, the Cavs took back the lead at 54-53 early in the third. Cleveland to grab an 80-76 lead heading to a spirited fourth quarter.

The Cavs went up 84-78 on a DeSegana Diop dunk, but the Hawks came back to tie it after a Chris Crawford dunk. Crawford scored 25 points in the loss. James then hit a three to go back up 87-84, but Jason Terry came back with a three of his own to again tie it at 87. The lead would change hands various times until James went on a scoring run of his own.

James scored six straight Cavs points to put the Cavs on top 104-100 with 32 seconds to play. The Cavs would close out the game with free throws.

McInnis had another solid performance 14 pts. and 10 assists. Jackson had a team-high 30 points to go along with 7 rebounds. Terry added 17 points and 7 assists. Jason Collier, signed earlier in the day, had a career-high 16 points for the Hawks.

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