The Brooklyn Nets play the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday in London, England. Tipoff is at 3:00 p.m. ET. Listen to the live radio broadcast via the links provided below.
Brooklyn (15-22) had their five-game winning streak snapped on Saturday by the Toronto Raptors. Still, the streak - the longest of the season for the Nets - was enough to help inch the team back into playoff contention. Despite the Nets' early season struggles, they're now No. 8 in the watered-down Eastern Conference.
More impressively, Brooklyn was able to string together three of the wins without guard Deron Williams. The three-time NBA All-Star is out for his fifth straight game with a sprained left ankle. Williams, who has a history of ankle problems, underwent multiple injections in both of his ankles last week and isn't expected back until sometime next week.
Shooting guard Joe Johnson has stepped up in Williams' absence, averaging 23.2 points per game in the last four contests missed by Williams.
In addition to injuries, both teams will have to contend with the jet lag of traveling to England.
"It is tough to travel, especially when you travel more than four hours," Nets forward Andrei Kirilenko said, via ESPN. "We spending the majority of our time sitting. This is the problem. You sitting on the plane, you sitting on the bus. Your back gets hurt, stiff. Especially when you're tall."
Atlanta (20-18), meanwhile, sits No. 3 in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks have lost four of their last six games, including a 108-101 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Losing Al Horford to a season-ending torn pectoral hasn't made things easier, either.
"We're trying to build something here and we all know it's going to take some time," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Part of it is the system and part of it is just everything. It takes time to build something that's really successful and something that's sustainable and I think we've made some good initial steps.
Atlanta loss to Brooklyn on Jan. 6, 91-86.
Listen to the live radio broadcast HERE (BKN) and HERE (ATL).
