Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points to lead Atlanta to a 114-100 upset win over the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers despite sitting their starters.
The Hawks didn’t use any of their five starters against LeBron James’s Cavaliers who had their four game win streak snapped.
James finished with 27 points but it wasn’t enough for the Cavaliers as Mike Dunleavy came off the Atlanta bench to score 20 points and the depleted Hawks had a half dozen players in double figures.
Paul Millsap, Kent Bazemore, Dwight Howard and Dennis Schroder all sat out for rest after a 123-116 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
Thabo Sefolosha (right groin strain) has been out and Atlanta didn’t want to play Millsap or Bazemore on consecutive nights after recent injury woes.
The win vaulted Atlanta past the Milwaukee Bucks for fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
James also had eight rebounds and seven assists for the Cavs, whose lead over the Boston Celtics for first place in the East is now at one game with three to play.
Kyrie Irving added 18 points and Kevin Love contributed 15 points and 15 rebounds, but the Cavs made just nine of 36 three-point attempts, and trailed by 20 points with just under two minutes remaining.
The two teams play again on Sunday in Atlanta.
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