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Crawford leads Hawks over Kings at ARCO

Jan 5, 2011 - 6:57 AM Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 31 points and dished out seven assists, as Atlanta hung on for a 108-102 win over Sacramento at ARCO Arena

"I thought my teammates did a good job finding me," Crawford said. "I think every night is different. Sometimes it's not for me to shoot that much and sometimes it's for me to shoot 18 times."

Joe Johnson posted 29 points as the Hawks won their fourth in five contests. Josh Smith had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Al Horford chipped in with 10 points and eight boards.

Tyreke Evans posted 29 points, eight assists and five steals and DeMarcus Cousins posted 24 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who have lost 10 of their last 12. Omri Casspi had 11 boards and 10 points, while Francisco Garcia chipped in 12 points in the loss.

"I hated to lose that game, but I'm encouraged. That's a good team," Kings head coach Paul Westphal said of the Hawks. "They have some real tough matchups for us."

Down by 17 with just over four minutes left in regulation, the Kings mounted a 12-2 run to make it a three-possession game. Cousins started the run with a reverse lay-in and foul. Evans scored another three-point play for Sacramento just after a Cousins' hook shot. The run concluded with two free throw makes from Landry.

But the comeback was for naught, as the Hawks kept their distance during the last minute when they made all 10 shots from the stripe to secure the win.

The game was back-and-forth to start but Atlanta went on a 10-2 run as Crawford hit a three-pointer for a 24-17 lead with 1:27 left to play in the first.

The Hawks held onto a 27-23 advantage into the second period, but the home team reclaimed the lead, 33-32, on a long Pooh Jeter jumper with just under nine minutes left in the half. Zaza Pachulia's two free throws a minute and a half later put Atlanta back up.

That started a 19-4 run to finish out the half -- Johnson's driving layup concluded the run. Neither team was able to score during the remaining 1:51 and the Hawks held a 54-40 edge at the break.

Atlanta continued to roll by starting the second half with a 7-2 run ended by Johnson's trey and long jumper to give the Hawks a 61-42 lead. The double- digit edge stayed as the quarter ended 77-63 in favor of the visitors.

The Hawks pushed their lead to as much as 22 before the Kings made the late run.

Game Notes

Evans had a career-high five steals...Atlanta is 7-6 against teams from the West this season...Atlanta shot 51.3 percent from the field, while Sacramento made 44.8 percent of its shots...The Hawks won the battle of the glass, 47-39...Atlanta has won six straight overall in the series and three straight at ARCO Arena.