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Hawks, Hornets set for Big Easy battle

Dec 26, 2010 - 4:02 PM (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks will try to put the brakes on a four-game road losing streak tonight against the New Orleans Hornets in the Big Easy.

Atlanta is 8-7 on the road this season and will also make a stop in Milwaukee on its two-game trek. It has won two straight overall and three of the last four games, including Wednesday's 98-84 victory at home versus Cleveland.

Joe Johnson scored 23 points, Al Horford had 18 points with eight rebounds and Josh Smith recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards for the Hawks, who are unbeaten in their last eight games at Philips Arena.

"Here at home we've pretty much got it figured out," said Johnson, who was playing his fourth game since returning several weeks early from right elbow surgery. "Now we just have to figure it out on the road.

Hawks guard and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford missed his fifth straight game with a sore back and is questionable for tonight.

New Orleans has won its last three games at home and is coming off Wednesday's 105-91 victory versus the New Jersey Nets. Emeka Okafor posted his third straight double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who got 18 points from David West.

"For him to be playing at that level really helps our team," New Orleans head coach Monty Williams said of Okafor. "We've said this before, on most nights Emeka (Okafor) is an X-factor for us."

Chris Paul netted 12 points and handed out 14 assists to help the Hornets end a two-game slide and win for the third time in five tries.

The Hornets are 12-3 in the Big Easy this season.

The Hawks and Hornets split a home-and-home series a season ago, with each team holding serve as the host. New Orleans has won five of the last eight meetings with Atlanta, which is 3-13 in the past 16 games on the bayou.