Hawks 95 - 92 Wizards
Final
  for this game

Hawks aim to continue dominance of Wizards

Mar 24, 2012 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks hope to improve their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference when they visit the nation's capital to take on the Washington Wizards.

Atlanta, which has won 14 of its last 15 meetings with the Wizards, is currently the sixth seed in the East, percentage points behind Indiana.

The Hawks have used a favorable stretch on the schedule to their advantage and have won four of five, including a 93-84 win over New Jersey on Friday. Josh Smith scored 13 points in the fourth quarter en route to his second straight 30-point performance in that one to help Atlanta take the victory at Philips Arena.

"I've just been playing confident and playing the way I'm capable of playing," said Smith. "I'm just trying to initiate myself into the ball game and set the tone."

Smith added 12 rebounds, while Jeff Teague tallied 17 points, Joe Johnson scored 16, and Kirk Hinrich finished with 14 to help the Hawks, who began this run by topping Washington in the Peach State just over a week ago.

Atlanta will be playing the middle contest of a back-to-back-to-back stretch that will continue against Utah back at Philips Arena on Sunday.

The Wizards, meanwhile, couldn't follow up on a brilliant debut by Nene and fell to Indiana, 85-83, on Thursday in D.C. Pacers All-Star Roy Hibbert had 19 points and nine rebounds and Paul George hit the go-ahead three down the stretch in that one as Indiana edged Washington.

John Wall had one final chance to tie the contest, but was unable to get his floater off -- which went in -- before the final buzzer.

Jordan Crawford poured in 21 points for Washington, which was coming off a 2-4 road trip. Wall finished with 16 points and nine assists.

Nene, who was acquired from Denver at the trade deadline and made his Wizards debut on Wednesday night, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a win at New Jersey, managed just six points against Indiana.

"Just no execution, no spacing in the second half," said Wall. "They just kept pounding away."






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