casper
12-27-2009, 10:15 AM
HAWKS CRUISE TO WIRE-TO-WIRE WIN OVER PACERS
THE SPORTS NETWORK
Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Al Horford scored 25 points and yanked down a season-best 19 rebounds as Atlanta never trailed in posting a 110-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Joe Johnson added 24 points and Josh Smith scored 22 for the Hawks, who won for the eighth time in 10 games. They've also beaten the Pacers five straight times. The trio of Horford, Johnson and Smith combined to go 28-of-42 from the field.
Jamal Crawford chipped in 19 points in the victory.
Troy Murphy and Tyler Hansbrough each had a strong game for Indiana, which dropped its fifth in a row. Both scored 19 points with Murphy logging 12 rebounds and Hansbrough 11. Luther Head also scored 19 in defeat.
Smith scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Hawks gained an early advantage they never relinquished. He had a layup and dunk as part of a 9-0 run to open the game. Mike Bibby capped the burst with a three-pointer, and a three-ball from Marvin Williams expanded the margin to 18-4 just 4:08 into the contest.
"We wanted to come out and hit them early and try to build a lead so our starters could get some rest," Johnson said. "We were very active tonight. We had more boost than normal. I think the couple of days off really helped."
Atlanta led by as many as 17 in the quarter before settling for a 33-20 cushion after 12 minutes. The Hawks didn't turn the ball over in the opening 12 minutes, while scoring eight points off five Indiana miscues.
A jumper by Brandon Rush had the Pacers within 37-33 with 7;41 remaining in the half, but Atlanta pulled away with an ensuing 12-2 burst, culminated by Horford's jam inside three minutes left. It was 51-40 at the half.
The Hawks were ahead by double digits nearly the entire third quarter and carried an 84-66 margin moving to the fourth. Johnson netted 10 points in the third, a period in which the Hawks went 12-of-19 from the field.
The lead reached as high as 20 in the fourth.
"We turned the ball over too much," Murphy said. "You can't get down on a good team like Atlanta and expect to dig out."
Game Notes: Horford tied a season-high in points...Atlanta won in Indianapolis for just the fourth time in the last 19 meetings...The Hawks are only a half-game behind Orlando for the top spot in the Southeast Division...The Hawks next face the Cavaliers on back-to-back nights, starting Tuesday in Atlanta...Indiana plays at Miami Sunday...T.J. Ford had 10 points and nine assists for the Pacers...Smith also had five blocks in the win.
THE SPORTS NETWORK
Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Al Horford scored 25 points and yanked down a season-best 19 rebounds as Atlanta never trailed in posting a 110-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Joe Johnson added 24 points and Josh Smith scored 22 for the Hawks, who won for the eighth time in 10 games. They've also beaten the Pacers five straight times. The trio of Horford, Johnson and Smith combined to go 28-of-42 from the field.
Jamal Crawford chipped in 19 points in the victory.
Troy Murphy and Tyler Hansbrough each had a strong game for Indiana, which dropped its fifth in a row. Both scored 19 points with Murphy logging 12 rebounds and Hansbrough 11. Luther Head also scored 19 in defeat.
Smith scored 12 points in the first quarter as the Hawks gained an early advantage they never relinquished. He had a layup and dunk as part of a 9-0 run to open the game. Mike Bibby capped the burst with a three-pointer, and a three-ball from Marvin Williams expanded the margin to 18-4 just 4:08 into the contest.
"We wanted to come out and hit them early and try to build a lead so our starters could get some rest," Johnson said. "We were very active tonight. We had more boost than normal. I think the couple of days off really helped."
Atlanta led by as many as 17 in the quarter before settling for a 33-20 cushion after 12 minutes. The Hawks didn't turn the ball over in the opening 12 minutes, while scoring eight points off five Indiana miscues.
A jumper by Brandon Rush had the Pacers within 37-33 with 7;41 remaining in the half, but Atlanta pulled away with an ensuing 12-2 burst, culminated by Horford's jam inside three minutes left. It was 51-40 at the half.
The Hawks were ahead by double digits nearly the entire third quarter and carried an 84-66 margin moving to the fourth. Johnson netted 10 points in the third, a period in which the Hawks went 12-of-19 from the field.
The lead reached as high as 20 in the fourth.
"We turned the ball over too much," Murphy said. "You can't get down on a good team like Atlanta and expect to dig out."
Game Notes: Horford tied a season-high in points...Atlanta won in Indianapolis for just the fourth time in the last 19 meetings...The Hawks are only a half-game behind Orlando for the top spot in the Southeast Division...The Hawks next face the Cavaliers on back-to-back nights, starting Tuesday in Atlanta...Indiana plays at Miami Sunday...T.J. Ford had 10 points and nine assists for the Pacers...Smith also had five blocks in the win.