What a terrible collapse for the Atlanta Hawks against the lowly New Jersey Nets as the Hawks dropped an 89-82 decision on Sunday afternoon in Brick City. Bricks is exactly what this Hawks team was firing in the last 36 minutes of the basketball game. The Hawks, who shot a blistering 64-percent (14-for-22) in the first quarter could not buy a basket in the final three, connecting on just 15-of-52 shots (28-percent) from the field en route to their fourth straight road loss.
Teams that hit 14 field goals in the first 12 minutes and 15 the rest of the way should never win basketball games.
Mike Bibby lead Atlanta with 19 points, while Al Horford added 14. Joe Johnson put in a stinker after the first quarter and finished with 14 points on 4-for-16 from the field. He missed his last eight shots.
Josh Smith was not much better. He had 15 points, but once again struggled with his shot, netting just 3-of-9 shots and sat for most of the first half in foul trouble. Atlanta played terrible, uninspired basketball in the last 12 minutes and lost the game because of it.
Devin Harris lead the Nets with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds while Brook Lopez added 16 points for the team from Newark.
Atlanta committed 16 turnovers and lost the battle of the boards 46-39.