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Horford's last-second free throws lift Hawks over Clips

Feb 5, 2011 - 4:13 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - After a high-impact collision with Clippers forward Blake Griffin, Al Horford connected on two free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining, lifting the Atlanta Hawks to a 101-100 victory at Philips Arena.

"It was hard for me getting up first," Horford said regarding the collision. "I think once I got up I was fine. I had to focus in and I knew I just had to take my time and make the free throws."

Horford finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds while Jamal Crawford scored a game-high 34 points for Atlanta, which has won three of four. Joe Johnson added 17 points with nine rebounds and Josh Smith contributed 10 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Hawks, who have won four straight in the series.

Atlanta had the ball with five seconds remaining after Johnson's short jumper was blocked by Randy Foye. An official review was used to determine possession after the block was conducted, and after a jump ball Horford drove into the lane in the final seconds, colliding with Griffin, who was called for a flagrant one foul. Horford made the pair from the line to account for the final margin.

"I just went for the ball," Griffin said of the collision. "It was a last second shot, I mean [Johnson] had a wide open dunk. I felt I went straight up but [the officials] thought otherwise."

Baron Davis led the Clippers with 22 points and 13 assists. Griffin continued his impressive rookie season with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Ike Diogu scored a season-high 14 points with 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who have dropped back-to-back games.

Atlanta took a 79-67 lead into the fourth quarter, however, after Marvin Williams connected on two from the line at 10:11 to widen the Hawks' lead to 83-69, the Clippers went on an 13-2 run. Rookie Al-Farouq Aminu scored seven in the spurt. Two free throws from Davis put the game at 85-82 at the seven minute mark.

Davis' driving jumper at 4:39 and two successful free throws 30 seconds later gave the Clippers a 91-90 lead. The teams traded baskets down the stretch and after Eric Bledsoe made a pair from the line with 11.5 ticks remaining LA held a 100-99 lead.

The Hawks took a 22-19 lead after a back-and-forth first quarter. Diogu came off the bench for the Clippers in the second quarter, scoring 12 points, to give LA a 50-47 lead at the half.

Crawford scored 16 of his points in the third quarter on 6-of-6 from the field, and Atlanta took a 79-67 lead into the final stanza.

Game Notes

Aminu and DeAndre Jordan both added nine points for the Clippers while Foye and Bledsoe both finished with eight points...Both teams grabbed 44 rebounds...Williams added nine points and six rebounds in a reserve role.