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Suns Vs. Hawks Score: Josh Smith Has Solid Third, Atlanta Cuts Phoenix Lead To 80-71

This one is looking very familiar to that game that the Atlanta Hawks and the Phoenix Suns played in Atlanta in November.

Josh Smith scored 11 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter as the Hawks cuts the lead to 80-71 through three quarters.

Channing Frye has 14 and Jared Dudley 12 for Phoenix, which lead by 14 at the break.

The reason the Hawks are back in this one is that they've ratcheted up the defense and started rebounding the basketball. Phoenix was +10 in rebounds at the break. By the end of the third, it was a 30-30 tie. Whether or not Atlanta can whittle this lead down more is a question of whether they keep the defensive commitment, force Phoenix into making bad shots and are there in the post for the rebound.

Al Horford has 12 points for the Hawks, who are shooting 46-percent from the field through the first three quarters.

Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.