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E-mailNo Joe Johnson, no problem. The Atlanta Hawks didn’t have a tough time disposing the New Jersey Nets even without their star player. Getting a huge game from 6th man Jamal Crawford, the Hawks dismantled the woeful Nets, 108-104 on Tuesday night with ease.
Crawford scored a game-high 25 points in 28 minutes of action to lead the Hawks to its 3rd straight win and ninth in their last 12 games. Marvin Williams added 15 points for the Hawks, who drubbed the hapless Nets while Johnson is nursing his Achilles tendinitis. Al Horford also had a big game as he contributed 15 points on top of 11 rebounds.
The win further solidified the Hawks position in Eastern conference playoff race. They’re currently in third place behind the Cavaliers and Magic while being a full game ahead of the Celtics.
For the Nets, Brooke Lopez continues to play well in spite of his team’s record.
He scored 21 points in 36 minutes of play for the Nets. Josh Boone meanwhile had a season-high 13 points and career-best 20 rebounds while seeing action for 31 minutes.
The Nets have lost for the 60th time the entire season. With 15 games remaining, they need to win at least three more games to tie the NBA record for the fewest wins in a season that is currently being held by the 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers. This loss is the Nets' 12th straight at home, further extending their franchise-worst record.
The Nets were also missing point guard Devin Harris, who is recuperating from a respiratory illness.
Right now, Crawford continues to be the most productive 6th man in the league, scoring 17.5 points per game. When he entered in the second quarter, he immediately changed the complexion of the game by hitting 7 of 10 shots. Six of those shots came right before the second quarter ended. This sparked a 19-5 run that gave the Hawks a 55-39 halftime advantage.
With 5.8 seconds left in the second quarter, Lopez missed a free throw that led to a Hawks rebound. Crawford got the ball and he immediately rushed up court to launch a three-point shot. The ball swooshed through the net, just in time to beat the buzzer.
After the game, Horford praised Crawford for coming off the bench and delivering.
Hawks coach Mike Woodson commented that Crawford has been solid for their team all year long. He said that when Crawford started going on a streak, he ran three plays for him.
On the other hand, Nets guard Courtney Lee said that the loss was a step back for the team. He added that with the way that they’re competing on the road, it was disappointing that their team lost at home.
Notes:
Boone’s previous career high in rebounds was 17.
With today’s win, the Hawks won all of their three games against the Nets.
Hawks forward Josh Smith played his 1000th career game, becoming the 93rd player in NBA history to hit that mark.
Johnson’s absence is only the 15th time that the Hawks have missed somebody due to injury. It also happens to be the lowest total for any NBA team this season.
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