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Playoff-hopeful Hawks shoot for another win over lowly Bobcats

Apr 7, 2012 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - Atlanta will shoot for its second win in four days over the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats, a team trying to halt an ugly 10-game skid.

The Hawks, who routed Charlotte in Atlanta, 120-93, on Wednesday, arrive in the Queen City fresh off a 101-96 triumph over Detroit at Philips Arena on Friday.

Jeff Teague tied a career-high with 24 points and dished out a season-high 11 assists in that one as the Hawks survived a fourth-quarter push by the Pistons to escape with the victory.

Josh Smith added 22 points and 12 rebounds while Joe Johnson and Ivan Johnson netted 16 points apiece Atlanta, which won for the third time in four games and is currently fifth in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, one-half game ahead of the Orlando Magic.

"We were just trying to push the ball and get to the basket. We have been doing it the past couple of games, trying to force the issue in the paint, and it worked out for us tonight," said Teague.

The Hawks, who are 14-15 as the visitor on the season, are opening up a three- game road trip on Saturday that will also include visits to Boston and Orlando.

The Bobcats, meanwhile, dropped their 10th straight in Milwaukee on Friday, falling to the Bucks 95-90. Charlotte did get a career game from Byron Mullens, who scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed 14 boards in the loss.

Kemba Walker filled the stat sheet with 18 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, but the Bobcats fell to a league-worst 7-46.

"I just like the way we competed," said Bobcats head coach Paul Silas. "That's a team that really needed that game and we brought them right down to the wire and we had a chance to win."

Atlanta has won three straight over Charlotte, which is just 4-20 in 2011-12 on its home floor.