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Bobcats tangle with Hawks

Jan 22, 2011 - 4:13 PM (Sports Network) - The Charlotte Bobcats hope to finish up a brief two-game homestand in perfect fashion Saturday when they welcome Southeast Division- rival Atlanta to the Queen City.

The Bobcats took the opener of the quick residency on Thursday when D.J. Augustin poured in a career-high 31 points, including 25 in the first half, as Charlotte snapped a two-game skid against Philadelphia, topping the 76ers 100-97 at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Augustin also dished out a game-high eight assists for the Bobcats, who have won two straight on the heels of a three-game skid.

"It was probably the most impressive thing I've seen so far with this club," Bobcats coach Paul Silas said of Augustin's first half. "I expect that kind of play from him all the time."

Gerald Henderson scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Nazr Mohammed added 15 points and seven rebounds for Charlotte, which announced mid-game that forward Tyrus Thomas will miss up to eight weeks with a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.

The Hawks look to extend their road winning streak to six games when they begin a short trek tonight against the Bobcats and Bucks. They are 14-9 away from Philips Arena, where Atlanta suffered a lopsided 100-59 loss to the New Orleans Hornets last night.

Jamal Crawford led the way with 14 points off the bench, while Josh Smith added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks, who had a modest two-game win streak halted and set a team record for fewest points scored in a game. The previous low was 63 points, which took place on November 19, 1996 at Cleveland.

"It was very tough," Crawford said. "I think we came out and just laid an egg. Unfortunately teams go through situations like that during the course of an 82-game season. You just hate to have it happen to you."

Atlanta was outscored, 51-25, in the second half and got just nine points from Joe Johnson. Johnson is still averaging 25.6 ppg in nine games in 2011. The Hawks were without Al Horford (ankle) and Marvin Williams (back) due to injury. Horford is expected to miss tonight's game and Williams is out indefinitely.

Atlanta has taken three of its last four games against the Bobcats, including a 90-85 win in Dixie back on Dec. 17. The Hawks, however, have lost three straight and 10 of the 12 matchups at Charlotte.