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Hawks hope to get back on track vs. Suns

Jan 13, 2009 - 2:52 PM Atlanta (22-14) at Phoenix (21-13) 9:00 p.m. EST

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- As the new year rang in, the Atlanta Hawks' season took a distinct left turn. Two weeks into 2009, they find themselves trying to get their season back on track.

Losers of four of their last five games, the Hawks kick off a brief road trip on Tuesday night as they visit the Phoenix Suns.

Atlanta's one 2009 victory was a January 3 showdown against the Houston Rockets, but it has since dropped three straight. The defensive prowess that had carried the Hawks for most of the first two months of the season suddenly evaporated. After giving up just 94.8 points per contest through their first 32 games, they are surrendering 109.0 over their last four.

The low point was Friday's 121-87 defeat at the hands of the Southeast Division rival Orlando Magic, as they fell behind by 38 by the half.

The Suns, meanwhile, have won five of six. After a 28-point blowout over Western Conference rival Dallas on Friday, they followed that up with a 109-103 win over the Clippers two nights later. Shaquille O'Neal scored 26 points to lead the way, while Jason Richardson and Grant Hill added 21 apiece.