Atlanta @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 29, 2018 ) Cleveland 108, Atlanta 111

The Atlanta Hawks travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers on Monday riding a seven-game losing streak and having lost 18 of their past 20, but there is some good news as forward John Collins returns after serving a 25-game suspension. Collins was penalized for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program after testing positive for a growth hormone, and without their top inside player the rebuilding Hawks struggled mightily - going 4-21 in his absence.

The return of Collins - who averaged 17 points on 52.5 percent shooting from the field and 8.8 rebounds through five games - won’t fix everything for Atlanta, which blew an 18-point second-half lead in Saturday’s 122-112 loss at Brooklyn while wasting guard Trae Young’s 47-point performance. “We just let one get away from us,” Young told reporters after finishing with eight rebounds and six assists. “They went on a run and we couldn’t stop it.” The Cavaliers have also struggled most of the season, but are winners of two in a row after rallying from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to beat Memphis 114-107 on Friday behind guard Jordan Clarkson’s season-best 33 points. “There was a point in the fourth quarter where I didn’t think we’d be sitting up here with a ‘W,’” Cleveland first-year coach John Beilein told the media postgame. “I love the way we fought back.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE HAWKS (6-24): Young is averaging 29 points and 8.4 assists, and his four 40-point games through 30 games is tied for the most in franchise history at this point of the season (Lou Hudson, 1973-74). Center Alex Len came off the bench with season highs in points (23) and rebounds (14) Saturday, and in his past 12 games is shooting 65.7 percent from the field while averaging 12.6 points. Rookie forward De’Andre Hunter is averaging 13.9 points in his past eight games since dislocating his right index finger.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (8-21): Clarkson shot 12-for-17 from the field and 6-for-8 from 3-point range Friday, and is averaging 18 points off the bench in his past five games. Guard Collin Sexton scored just nine points on 2-for-12 shooting from the field against Memphis, but leads the Cavaliers in scoring at 17.6. Forward Kevin Love has recorded a double-double in five of his past six games after finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds Friday, and on the season is averaging 16.1 points and 10.8 boards.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cleveland F John Henson blocked seven shots in 16 minutes Friday, as the Cavaliers finished with 10 (the franchise’s highest one-game total since Feb. 23, 2017).

2. Atlanta shot 2-for-24 from 3-point range in the second half last time out.

3. Hawks F Vince Carter played in his 1,505th career game Saturday, moving into fourth place in NBA history.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 114, Hawks 107