Hawks vs Thunder preview: Atlanta looks to cool off red hot Oklahoma City

The Atlanta Hawks look for a season high third straight road win when they travel to Oklahoma City to take on the scorching hot Thunder. OKC has won seven straight games and leads the Western Conference with a 35-10 record.

No one is having a better stretch than the Thunder's Kevin Durant who has scored at least 30 points in 10 straight games and is coming off of his second triple-double of the season. Durant is averaging an amazing 38.2 points in his 10-game streak and leads the league 31.1 per game average.

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Atlanta's DeMarre Carroll returned on Saturday after a one-game absence due to a sore hamstring. He will face the unenviable task of trying to slow down Durant. Carroll has proven to be an important part of Atlanta's success and is in the midst of a good stretch of his own offensively.

Oklahoma City won the first meeting back on December 10 at Philips Arena. Durant led the way on that night with 30 points while Russell Westbrook narrowly missed out on a triple-double with 14 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Westbrook won't play in Monday's game as he remains out after having knee surgery. Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 23 points and 12 rebounds in the earlier meeting.

The Hawks bounced back from a disappointing home loss on Friday with a 112-87 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. Millsap was one of six players in double figures finishing with 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Even with Carroll back in the lineup, the Hawks come into the game banged up. Atlanta will be without Jeff Teague and Pero Antic who are both out with ankle injuries. Center Al Horford played in the first meeting between the two clubs but he has since been lost for the season with a torn pectoral. John Jenkins will also miss the game due to a back injury.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Monday, January 27, 8 p.m.

Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

TV: SportSouth

Radio: 92.9 "The Game" FM

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