Hawks 92 - 108 Spurs
Final
  for this game

Spurs resume homestand vs. Hawks

Dec 10, 2010 - 4:16 PM (Sports Network) - The red-hot San Antonio Spurs resume a lengthy six-game homestand tonight hoping to build upon the best start in franchise history when they entertain the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks arrive in the Alamo City with the Eastern Conference's best road record at 8-3 but the franchise has lost its last 12 trips to San Antonio, a skid that coincides with the arrival of superstar Tim Duncan during the 1997-98 season.

Most recently, the Spurs improved to 3-0 on their residency and an NBA-best 18-3 overall on Wednesday when Tony Parker scored 19 points and dished out nine assists, leading San Antonio to yet another home victory over the Golden State Warriors, 111-94.

DeJuan Blair was a factor down low with 15 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who have beaten Golden State 25 straight times at home and 10 consecutive times overall. At 18-3, San Antonio is off to its best 21- game start in franchise history.

"I thought everyone did a really good job of finding the open man," said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. "Being aggressive but understanding that teammates were open and making the easy pass to the next guy. I thought everybody did that very well."

Like Atlanta, the last time the Warriors won in the Alamo City -- during the 1996-97 season -- was the year before Duncan burst upon the scene. Duncan, who has since been apart of four NBA title teams and won two NBA MVPs, scored only eight points in limited action in this contest.

The Hawks, meanwhile, won their second straight game on Tuesday when Josh Smith scored a season-high 34 points in Atlanta's 116-101 victory over New Jersey at Philips Arena.

Jamal Crawford added a season-best 26 for Atlanta, which has won seven of its last eight games overall and continues to toil without All-Star guard Joe Johnson (elbow). Al Horford posted a double-double of 24 points and 10 boards in the win, while adding six assists.

"Josh Smith was excellent again tonight," said Hawks head coach Larry Drew. "He played with a lot of energy and made some nice plays. His jump shot was really falling."

Atlanta shot 60.3 percent from the field in the win.

The Hawks are now 4-1 since losing Johnson, who is expected to be sidelined at least three more weeks after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery last week.






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