• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hawks wrap up lengthy trek against Nuggets

Feb 28, 2011 - 3:59 PM (Sports Network) - The light at the end of the road tunnel is approaching, as the Atlanta Hawks conclude a taxing seven-game trek tonight against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

Atlanta has played well as the guest to the tune of a 19-14 mark and evened its record on the current road swing to 3-3 with Sunday's 90-83 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers from the Rose Garden. Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford scored 23 points and Joe Johnson netted 22 for the Hawks, who got 14 points and 11 rebounds from Josh Smith.

The Hawks held on for the win despite being outscored, 34-22, in the final period. They shot just 42 percent and had a 49-34 advantage on the glass. Zaza Pachulia grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to go with his two points.

"I think we had more energy tonight," Crawford told NBA.com. "Our starters set the tone and our bench just picked it up from there. When we get out and we run like we did, we are pretty tough to stop, we get easy baskets. And that's what we were able to do tonight."

Atlanta has won two in a row and will play four straight and 10 of 11 games back home at Philips Arena following tonight's tilt in the Rocky Mountains. The four-game homestand will feature a tough group of teams in the Bulls, Thunder, Knicks and Lakers.

Denver will shoot for its fourth straight win at home Monday night in the opener of a brief residency versus Atlanta and Charlotte.

The Nuggets lost for the first time in three games since dealing superstar Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks, as they dropped a 107-106 overtime decision in Portland on Friday night. Newcomers Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler scored 30 and 20 points, respectively, while Arron Afflalo finished with 19 points for Denver, which had a three-game win streak halted.

"With what we were dealt, and how we reacted to it and what we got done with the limited amount of togetherness that we've had -- I can't complain," said Denver head coach George Karl.

Nene compiled 12 points and 11 rebounds in a losing cause. The Nuggets blew an 11-point lead and has squandered a double-digit advantage 12 times this season. Forward Kenyon Martin is listed as questionable against Atlanta with the flu and did not play in Friday's loss. Martin's also dealing with a sinus infection.

Denver is 24-7 at home this season -- the second-best home record in the Western Conference behind San Antonio's amazing 28-2 ledger.

Atlanta and Denver are meeting for the first time since splitting a home-and- home series a season ago, with each team prevailing as the host. These two teams have split the last five series. The Hawks have lost three in a row and five of six games in the Rockies.