• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Hawks crush struggling Bobcats

Apr 8, 2012 - 6:45 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Joe Johnson led eight Hawks in double-figures with 18 points as Atlanta routed the Charlotte Bobcats, 116-96, on Saturday.

Ivan Johnson netted 17 points off the bench, Josh Smith and Jannero Pargo finished with 15 apiece and Zaza Pachulia grabbed 16 rebounds to go with 12 points for the Hawks, who won their third in a row.

Cory Higgins supplied a career-high 22 points, but it was not enough for the Bobcats, who have lost 11 straight.

"We just couldn't pick it up. Their second unit was on it tonight," Bobcats head coach Paul Silas said. "They played very well tonight, and we just could not get back in it."

Charlotte led by three early in the second before Atlanta used a 8-0 run to take an advantage they did not relinquish.

Willie Green began the spurt with a jumper. Marvin Williams -- who finished with 14 points -- then hit a three-pointer, and Pargo followed with his own triple.

Higgins made a driving layup before Green pulled up for a trey and Pachulia hit a hook shot to extend the lead to double-digits, 41-31.

Atlanta shot 43.9 percent and made six threes in the first half en route to a 48-36 halftime edge.

"I thought our starters were real flat in the first quarter, but our bench did a great job of providing a spark in the second quarter. (Jannero) Pargo, Willie Green and Ivan Johnson gave us a spark and did a great job. That's what it's going to take, particularly down the stretch," Hawks head coach Larry Drew said.

The Bobcats never threatened in the second half, trailing by double-digits throughout as Atlanta built a lead as large as 24.

Game Notes

Atlanta has won four straight meetings and swept the season series, 4-0...Green and Jeff Teague each scored 11 points...Atlanta won the rebounding battle 42-31 and outscored the Bobcats 56-42 in the paint.