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Hawks cap best preseason in 24 years with win over Hornets

Oct 25, 2007 - 2:54 AM By Ed Cassiere PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) - The Atlanta Hawks capped their winningest preseason in 24 years with a 107-98 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

Joe Johnson scored 20 points and Josh Smith added 18 for the Hawks, who had six players in double figures and finished the preseason 7-1 for the first time since 1983.

Atlanta, which had the NBA's fourth-worst record in 2006-07, will open the season at home on November 2 against Dallas - the league's winningest team last season.

Atlanta took control of the game with a 24-6 run spanning seven minutes between the end of the second and beginning of the third quarter, which gave the Hawks a 64-44 lead with 8:50 left in the third.

Hawks rookie Al Horford, the third overall pick, added eight points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Second-year center Hilton Armstrong, starting in place of Tyson Chandler, led New Orleans with 25 points and 14 rebounds and exceeded his rookie highs in both categories.

Chris Paul added 15 points and five assists for the Hornets, who never cut the deficit to less than seven points during the second half.

New Orleans will play its final preseason game Friday against Charlotte at Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The Hornets open the season at home on October 31 against Sacramento.