Hawks play host to Bobcats

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Hawks have won four of their last five games and will try to keep the momentum going Saturday night when they host the Charlotte Bobcats.

Atlanta has won four straight at Philips Arena and owns the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. Only the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat are higher in the standings than the Hawks.

On Thursday, it took two overtimes and a Jeff Teague jumper at the buzzer to give the Hawks a 127-125 victory.

Atlanta had the ball with 21.7 seconds left when Teague dribbled out the clock for the final shot. He gained separation from Kyrie Irving on the drive, hoisted up a 20-foot jumper that hit the rim several times and rattled in for the victory.

"It was supposed to be a pick-and-roll at the end, but they switched on us, so I just went for it," said Teague, who finished with 34 points and 14 assists in the win, Atlanta's third straight over Cleveland.

Al Horford had 25 points, while Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap contributed 20 points apiece for the Hawks. Millsap also had 11 rebounds and Shelvin Mack chipped in 10 points off the bench. The rest of the second unit combined for just 10 points.

Horford is out indefinitely with a sprained shoulder and Forward DeMarre Carroll (thumb) is questionable versus Charlotte.

The Bobcats will open a five-game road trip Saturday against Atlanta, Utah, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland and Sacramento, and are 6-6 as the visitor this season.

Charlotte had won four of five games until dropping an 89-85 decision to the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday in the finale of a three-game homestand. Kemba Walker scored 18 points and Al Jefferson added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

Gerald Henderson and Josh McRoberts posted 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Bobcats, who shot 37.5 percent for the game and couldn't top an Oklahoma City team playing without Russell Westbrook (knee surgery).

"I'm not really disappointed but I'm not happy with how we played," said Bobcats head coach Steve Clifford. "We made too many mistakes."

The Hawks bested the Bobcats, 103-94, in Charlotte on Nov. 11 and have won nine straight over their fellow Southeast Division rival. Atlanta has taken four straight and 11 of the last 12 over the Bobcats in Georgia.