LaMarcus Aldridge reentered the game midway through second quarter. But by then the Atlanta Hawks were on quite the roll.
The Hawks scored 15 unanswered points midway through the third quarter to post a 48-36 lead over the Portland Trail Blazers at the break.
Jamal Crawford has 11 points and Josh Smith has seven points and six board for Atlanta, which held Portland scoreless for nine straight shots during that second quarter run.
Al Horford capped the run with a pair of free throws to open a 42-27 lead with 3:18 left in the frame before the Blazers called time out. Andre Miller finally stopped the bleeding with a layup with 3:00 left before Portland closed the deficit to 12 at the break.
Atlanta seems to be having its way with Portland, uncharacteristically crashing the paint and drawing fouls. The Hawks have gone to the line 16 times in the first half while the Blazers hit the charity stripe on just three occasions.
Aldridge, who left the game with what appeared to be a leg injury in the first quarter, did not score after he returned. Miller and Nicolas Batum have seven each for the Blazers.
Gerald Wallace has just four points on 2-of-9 shooting from the field for Portland, which is shooting 38-percent (17-for-45) in the first half.