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Streaking Bobcats clip Hawks

Mar 7, 2009 - 4:23 AM CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Break up Larry Brown's Charlotte Bobcats.

Gerald Wallace scored 21 points and the Bobcats have a five-game winning streak after vanquishing the Atlanta Hawks, 98-91, on Friday. The streak equals a team record.

Charlotte came out flying. An early 12-0 surge was the catalyst to a 36-21 lead after the first quarter.

"The first quarter is about as good as we've ever played," Charlotte coach Larry Brown said. "We executed great and we even defended okay."

Hawks coach Mike Woodson didn't like what he watched.

"We just weren't ready," Woodson said. "You have to hold everyone accountable from the start of the game, from the first play on."

The victory wasn't going to come easy, however, as Atlanta clawed back and eventually closed within 82-80 on Maurice Evans' tip in the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats charged back with a 12-4 run to grab a 92-84 advantage. The tear was capped by Raymond Felton's drive and a layup that forced a timeout by Atlanta with 1:51 left in the game.

Flip Murray hit a 3-point shot to cut the gap to five. Felton, however, crushed the Hawks with a dazzling drive and layup over Al Horford. He was fouled on the play and canned the foul shot to make it 95-87 with 45 seconds left.

"I had a step on him and I had a chance to bump him where I wanted to bump him at," Felton said. "I've got a little bit of strength behind me, just a little bit. But it was a tough play. I think he made a great play trying to recover but I got a step on him and got my body into him before he could get back to me."

With the score at 96-90, Felton missed a pair of foul shots. Charlotte then fouled Marvin Williams, who made 1-of-2 from the line to make it a five-point game with less than a half-minute remaining.

Felton was fouled again and made amends this go-round, knocking down a pair to make it 98-91 with 26 seconds left.

Murray then missed a jump shot and the Bobcats grabbed the rebound, dribbled the clock out and had tied their franchise record for consecutive wins.

"It shows the chemistry of the team," Wallace said. "We understand if we swing the ball and make the extra pass we can be a better team."

Horford led a balanced Atlanta attack with 15 points.