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Williams, Smith lead Hawks past Wizards

Oct 23, 2007 - 2:05 AM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The resurgent Atlanta Hawks continue to impress this preseason.

Marvin Williams and Josh Smith scored 24 points apiece to lead the Hawks to a 103-99 preseason victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday.

Josh Childress scored 22 points for the Hawks, who haven't made it to the postseason since the 1998-99 campaign. But they hope their young talent can help them end the league's longest postseason drought.

If Monday is any indication, Atlanta's once-woeful squad might be all right.

Childress and Smith combined for 16 of Atlanta's 26 fourth-quarter points, including a jam by Childress with 6:13 remaining to give the Hawks an 87-81 lead.

Particularly impressive has been the play of rookie Al Horford, the third pick in the 2007 draft. Subbing for the injured Zaza Pachulia, the 21-year-old made his first start - scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds.

Washington's first-round pick Nick Young scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter, including a long jumper with 24.8 seconds remaining to cut Atlanta's lead to 101-99.

Gilbert Arenas scored 19 points and Antawn Jamison added 12 and nine rebounds for the Wizards, who lost for just the second time in seven preseason games.

Atlanta guards Tyronn Lue and Salim Stoudamire made their preseason debuts.

Lue, who is battling a sore right knee, collected eight points and five assists in 21 minutes. Stoudamire had a cameo appearance with two seconds remaining in the first half.

The Hawks were also without their second first-round pick Acie Law IV (sore left wrist), point guard Speedy Claxton (right knee) and forward Lorenzen Wright (neck).

Meanwhile, Washington did not dress forward Oleksiy Pecherov (left quadriceps muscle) and center Etan Thomas, who underwent open heart surgery on October 11.