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Unbeaten Hawks host Suns at Philips Arena

Nov 7, 2010 - 3:36 PM (Sports Network) - The red-hot Atlanta Hawks hope to stay unbeaten Sunday when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to Philips Arena.

Josh Smith scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out six assists on Friday, as the Hawks remained perfect on the young season with a 113-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.

Jamal Crawford added 22 points and five rebounds off the bench for Atlanta, which has won six straight to start a season for the second time in three years. The Hawks haven't opened 7-0 since they streaked out to an 11-0 start in the 1997-98 campaign.

Mike Bibby chipped in 15 points and five assists for Atlanta, which has won nine straight against Minnesota.

"We did a pretty good job of rebounding and getting out [on the fast break]," Smith explained.

Phoenix, which will be opening a quick two-day southern tour, is coming off a thrilling 123-118 double-overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Jason Richardson poured in 38 points and came up with an incredible three- point bank shot, and the tying alley-oop bucket as part of a crazy finish to regulation as the Suns edged Memphis for their first home win of the year.

Steve Nash had a combined 13 overtime points and scored 25 in total to go with nine assists for the Suns. Richardson went 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.

In a wild conclusion to regulation, the Grizzlies squandered a chance to finish the game when O.J. Mayo hit two free throws with 3.7 seconds left for a 98-94 difference, but Richardson banked in a long three-point try with 1.1 seconds to go.

After a Memphis timeout, Rudy Gay inbounded the ball off the back of Phoenix's Grant Hill. Gay got the ball and the clock ran out, but officials huddled at the scorer's table, and upon video review officials determined Gay was fouled by Nash with 0.4 seconds remaining. Gay missed the first foul shot and then accidentally made the second one.

That left the Suns one last chance following a timeout. Hill inbounded the ball and delivered a perfect pass to the rim for a wide open Richardson, who directed the ball around the rim and through.

"Well we knew we worked on that play at practice all the time, the end of the game situation, and (Hill) threw a great pass," Richardson said. "He's known for great passes. He threw one to Christian Laettner to win the game (in the NCAA Tournament), so he threw a great pass up there and I almost missed the lay-up, but I'm glad it went in."

The Grizzlies fell behind by five early in the second overtime and never recovered.

Today's game will feature the return of Suns swingman Josh Childress to Philips Arena. The former Hawk, who was the sixth overall pick by Atlanta in the 2004 NBA Draft, played his first four seasons with the Hawks before spending the last two in Greece.

Atlanta, which has won 14 straight regular season home games dating back to last season, has lost four of its last five meetings with the Suns.