Celtics Vs. Hawks: Boston Looks For 12th Straight Win

The Boston Celtics are looking to extend their current league-best 11-game winning streak at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

The Celtics, who own the Eastern Conference's best record by a margin of 2-1/2 games, have not lost since a one-point road defeat in Toronto on Nov. 21. Boston's current win streak actually began in Atlanta with a mammoth 23-point victory. In that game, the Celtics were without Rajon Rondo. But fill-in starter Nate Robinson chipped in 16 points as a balanced Boston attack and its typical suffocating defense let the Celtics romp.

The Hawks will certainly be without their own backcourt titan, Joe Johnson, who is on the shelf from the rest of the calendar year after elbow surgery earlier this month. Atlanta has survived since losing Johnson, going 5-3 over that span. Four of the wins came over playoff spot contenders, as well. The losses were at the hands of two elite teams -- the Heat and Spurs -- and, well, the really bad Pistons.

Hawks coach Larry Drew has chosen to use Maurice Evans in J.J.'s starting spot, with Jamal Crawford -- the best healthy shooting guard on the roster -- retaining his role as sixth man extraordinaire. Crawford hasn't been quite as good in relief as he was last season, with both his prolific ways and efficiency contracting a bit. The veteran Evans certainly hasn't been able to replicate Johnson's scoring and playmaking, but Al Horford, Mike Bibby and Josh Smith have handled the offense while Evans plays solid defense on the opponents' best perimeter player.