Final
Hawks-Spurs Preview
Jan 26, 2010 - 8:06 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior WriterAtlanta (29-14) at San Antonio (25-18), 8:30 p.m. EDT
Coach Mike Woodson needed to change something to help the Atlanta Hawks get a win in Texas. He could have tinkered with his lineup or employed a new-look defense, but losing his eyebrows may have hit the mark.
Kept loose by Woodson's pregame antics, the Hawks look to end another long road losing streak to a Texas team as they face the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
Atlanta (29-14) had lost 10 straight at Houston before a 102-95 win Monday night, and Woodson addressed the Hawks prior to the game with his eyebrows missing, which he attributed to an accidental slip at the barbershop.
Whatever happened, the episode seemed to break some tension in the locker room, and Atlanta went on to win for the eighth time in 10 games.
"It's not easy winning on the road," Woodson told the Hawks' official Web site. "We have to figure out how to win on the road. ... Good teams must do that."
Now Atlanta will try to snap an 11-game road losing streak to San Antonio (25-18). The Hawks, who have been held to 84.0 points per game during the skid, have dropped six in a row overall in the series.
The Spurs, though, are in danger of losing four straight home games for the first time since January 2002. They've lost three in a row overall for the third time this season, squandering the first half of a six-game homestand that they were hoping to take advantage of before hitting the road for most of February.
"We have a team that can win games ... but we just need to find way to get it done," forward Tim Duncan said. "Defensively we aren't as good as we want to be."
The Spurs gave up an average of 110.5 points during the first two games of their losing streak. Gregg Popovich was unhappy with San Antonio's defense again in a 98-93 loss to Chicago on Monday night.
"Our guys just need to keep up the attitude, continue to learn and cut down on the mistakes," Popovich said.
San Antonio also remains inconsistent offensively, averaging 93.2 points in its last six games after scoring 104.2 over its previous 20.
Richard Jefferson has disappointed in his first season with the Spurs, giving them 12.5 points per game - 7.1 below his average with Milwaukee last season. The veteran forward had a season-low two points on 1-for-8 shooting versus the Bulls.
Duncan shot 38.1 percent over his last three games and was limited to five rebounds against Chicago.
Jefferson and Duncan now have to contend with a talented Hawks frontcourt that includes Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford. Smith is coming off one of his best games of the season, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and four steals.
"Whenever we're able to come together and play defense ... and share the ball, then we're a tough team to beat," Smith said.
Smith, though, has averaged 7.0 points and shot 24.1 percent in nine games against the Spurs.
- NBA
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 21 23 30 16 90
SAN ANTONIO 36 30 21 18 105 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: ATL - JOE JOHNSON 31, JAMAL CRAWFORD 25,
JOSH SMITH 14
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 21, ANTONIO MCDYESS 17,
GEORGE HILL 16
Jan 27 10:55 PM - NBA
END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 21 23 30 74
SAN ANTONIO 36 30 21 87 END 3RD QTR
HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER
ATL - JOE JOHNSON 25, JAMAL CRAWFORD 21,
JOSH SMITH 12
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 15, GEORGE HILL 14, ANTONIO
MCDYESS 13
Jan 27 10:21 PM - NBA
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 21 23 44
SAN ANTONIO 36 30 66 HALFTIME
HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME
ATL - JOE JOHNSON 14, JOSH SMITH 11, JAMAL
CRAWFORD 10
SAS - GEORGE HILL 11, TONY PARKER 10, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 9
Jan 27 9:37 PM
Related News
- The Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama Rivalry Has Started Early Dec 28
- Pat Frost retirement recognized at Spurs game Dec 26
- Merry Christmas greetings from Wemby Claus Dec 25
- Game Thread: NBA Christmas Day basketball marathon Dec 25
- NBA Christmas Day 2023: open thread Dec 25
- Open Thread: Charlotte Hornets have never played on Christmas Day Dec 25
- Hawks unable to hold off Memphis momentum in loss to Grizzlies Dec 24
- Jeremy Sochan reminds us of his star potential against the Mavericks Dec 24
- Open Thread: ‘Spurs the Night Before Christmas Dec 24
- Another massive meltdown dooms Wemby-less Spurs in blowout loss to Mavs Dec 23
- San Antonio at Dallas, Final Score: Spurs can’t stop Doncic, lose 144-119 to Mavericks Dec 23
- Game Thread: San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks Dec 23