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ATLANTA - No LeBron James. No Al Horford.Late decisions by Cleveland and Atlanta to hold out the two stars could have led to a letdown, but Paul Millsap made sure the Hawks were tough down the stretch.Millsap scored 26 points and took over for Atlanta in the fourth quarter to help hold off a Cleveland comeback and the Hawks beat the short-handed Cavaliers 109-101 on Tuesday night.James, celebrating his 30th birthday, was held out with a sore left knee. Cavaliers forward Shawn Marion was held out with a left ankle sprain.Horford left the court with an upset stomach only minutes before tipoff.Hearing the news that James wont be in uniform can be disappointing — even for the opposing team.Different guys arent playing, guys on our team arent playing, guys for them arent playing, said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer. Its just human nature, as much as you want to fight it, it can be hard. We dont want to lower our expectations ... but it wasnt a pretty game.The Hawks led by 17 points early in the second half but had to hold off a comeback by Cleveland, which had 35 points and nine assists from Kyrie Irving.I had to be aggressive; we had some guys down, Irving said. I just kept shooting. ... We gave ourselves a chance to win. We just couldnt get over the hump.Irving made 13 of 27 shots from the field.I just thought Kyrie played his heart out, said Cavaliers coach David Blatt. I cant say enough about that kid. I just think the world of that kid.After a jam by Tristan Thompson cut the Atlanta lead to 93-90, Millsap scored Atlantas next eight points. Millsap had 10 points in the fourth quarter.Thats what we expect out of him, said Atlanta guard Jeff Teague of Millsap.Teague had 23 points and 11 assists, and Kyle Korver sank five 3-pointers while scoring 19 points.Thompson had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland.The Cavaliers have lost three of four. Before the game, Blatt addressed speculation of unrest on the team.I didnt feel a necessity to talk to the guys about that because thats simply not the case, Blatt said. And just because things are reported or said, it doesnt mean that theyre true.We have a very good group. Close knit. Guys are engaged, guys are listening. We went through a couple of tough games. A few short games ago we were 18-10 and looking good.James status is day to day.Obviously, we want to get him right, Blatt said after James was pulled from the starting lineup about 90 minutes before the game.James also was held out of Clevelands Dec. 11 game at Oklahoma City with soreness in the knee.___TIP-INSCavaliers: G Matthew Dellavedova had six points in his fourth start of the season. ... Irving had eight turnovers. Irvings 27 shots from the field set a season high. ... The Cavaliers shot only 34.1 per cent from the field in the first half and made only 6 of 21 shots (28.6) in the second quarter.Hawks: C Pero Antic had five points in his first start of the season. ... Millsap blocked three shots. ... Shelvin Mack, who set a career high with 24 points in Atlantas 127-98 win at Cleveland on Dec. 17, did not play. ... Two players were assigned to NBA Development League teams — guard John Jenkins to Idaho Stampede and centre Adreian Payne to Austin.LOVE LOSTCavaliers forward Kevin Love had seven points and seven rebounds, making only one of eight shots from the field, before leaving the game in the third quarter with tightness in his back. Love said he had a similar problem once before and was fine the following day.STAR GAZINGJames wore a grey suit as he watched the game from the bench. He shared a hug and laugh with singer Usher, who had a front-row seat near the Cavaliers bench, during a timeout.UP NEXTCavaliers: Host Milwaukee on Wednesday.Hawks: At Utah on Friday. Vans Shoes Cheap .com) - Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeVeon Bell, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil and New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen were selected as the AFCs top players for Week 14 of the NFL season. Cheap Vans Shoes Free Shipping . Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks were proof of that on Wednesday night. http://www.clearancevans.com/ . -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim. Wholesale Vans Authentic . The Redblacks host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-9) Friday night in their last home game of the year and as of Thursday afternoon, the team was anticipating a ninth consecutive sellout. You can watch all the action on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Discount Vans Shoes . He insists hes not counting. "If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Tyson Chandler started training two weeks after last season, searching for a better result next time when he stepped on the floor at Madison Square Garden.He got it. This time, he was on the right end of a Knicks loss.Chandler had three dunks during Dallas sizzling start to his return to New York, and Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points to help the Mavericks beat the Knicks 107-87 on Tuesday night.Chandler thought he would be back with the Knicks this season and started working out earlier than usual so he could help them rebound from the sour taste of their 37-45 finish. Instead, new president Phil Jackson dealt Chandler to Dallas in his first big move, and left even the respected centre wondering if he was the target after the Hall of Famer said the move was in part to address some of the teams chemistry problems.I wouldnt say there was any vindication, my whole thing is just I want to have a successful year, Chandler said. I feel like Ive got a great opportunity with this team and I want to help lead this team to something special.Chandler played a key role in the NBAs highest-scoring team putting together a nearly unstoppable start that gave it the lead for good. Monta Ellis added 14 points, and Chandler Parsons had 13 after missing a game with a sore lower back.Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points for the Knicks. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 but was 5 for 17 in another poor shooting effort.They were ready to play from the start. We werent, Anthony said. We kind of got backed up on our heels and then we decided to come out and play and pick it up after that.Shortly after hearing mostly cheers during introductions, Chandler dunked a lob pass for the games opening basket. He threw down another alley-oop that gave Dallas 10 baskets in its first 11 shots.Knicks coach Derek Fisher yanked all five starters at once soon after but the Mavs kept rolling, opening a 34-15 lead while sinking 13 of their first 16 attempts.I thought the start was not the right way to start a professional basketball game, Fisher said. Those guys that were in there to start the game, that was a disappointment to their teammates.dddddddddddd.The Knicks then answered with a 17-2 run that carried over into the second quarter and cut it to 36-32. But the Mavericks regained a double-digit lead by halftime and gradually expanded their advantage during the second half.Chandler came to New York a few months after the Mavs 2011 NBA championship, and won a Defensive Player of the Year award while helping the Knicks to a division title and two playoff appearances. But he had a disappointing season along with the team in 2013-14 and was dealt back to Dallas on the eve of the draft along with Raymond Felton for Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert and Shane Larkin.Calderon and Dalembert have struggled for the lowly Knicks (5-22), while Chandler came in shooting 68.2 per cent from the field. He went 4 of 5 for eight points with 14 rebounds.Biggest thing that he wanted to do is just win and Im glad that we could beat them twice for him, Parsons said.TIP-INSMavericks: Chandler has 12 double-doubles. He had only 16 all last season, when he missed time early in the season with a broken leg. ... Felton hasnt played this season after spraining his right ankle in a preseason game. ... Dallas is 11-2 against the Eastern Conference.Knicks: Anthony passed Mitch Richmond and moved into 37th place on the career scoring list with 20,520 points. Next up is George Gervin at 20,708. ... Quincy Acy started at forward but the Knicks changed the lineup to start the third quarter, inserting Larkin in his place. ... New York remained without injured guards Iman Shumpert (left shoulder) and J.R. Smith (left foot).DALLAS DOMINANCEThe Mavericks have won 22 of the last 27 meetings after sweeping the season series. They are 10-3 in their last 13 trips to Madison Square Garden.SCORING THE HARD-A-WAYHardaway has averaged 16 points in two starts since Shumpert went down, but shot just 9 for 32.UP NEXTMavericks: Visit Detroit on Wednesday.Knicks: Visit Chicago on Thursday. ' ' '