LeBron James returns but Heat drop fourth straight as Hawks win in OT

Close games have been a strength for Atlanta, a weakness for Miami.

The Hawks couldn't have been happier to see those trends continue.

And suddenly, the Southeast Division looks very much like a three-team race.

Josh Smith made a go-ahead layup with 34.7 seconds left in overtime, Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford each scored 19 points and the Hawks beat the Heat 93-89 on Tuesday night, sending Miami to a fourth straight loss and clawing within two games of the division lead.

"Everything we got tonight," Hawks coach Larry Drew said, "we really had to earn."

In games decided by five points or fewer, Atlanta is now 8-4. Miami is only 1-7, the lone victory coming when the Heat simply stole one from Washington in the final seconds.

And for a team that was riding a streak of 21 wins in 22 games a week ago, the Heat -- who played without Chris Bosh and tried a number of unusual lineups -- are sliding.

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