SB Nation Atlanta - Suns Vs. Hawks Score: Atlanta Comeback Falls Short, Phoenix Wins 105-97https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2011-02-23T23:36:51-05:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17743212011-02-23T23:36:51-05:002011-02-23T23:36:51-05:00Suns Vs. Hawks Score: Atlanta Comeback Falls Short, Phoenix Wins 105-97
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<p>The shorthanded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> did everything they possibly could to erase an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter. But by the end of it, the result was much of the same that it was the first time the Hawks and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> faced each other: another Atlanta loss.</p>
<p>Josh Smith had 26 points and Jamal Crawford added 19 in Atlanta's 105-97 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday night at the U.S. Airways Center.</p>
<p>Channing Frye had 20 and Jared Dudley 17 for the Suns, who handed the Hawks their third straight loss.</p>
<p>Atlanta struggled defensively in the first half, losing the battle of the boards 23-13 in the first 24 minutes of the basketball game while the Suns connected on 55-percent of their shots from the field. The result was another double-digit deficit for the Hawks to overcome in the second half.</p>
<p>Atlanta almost did that behind a sensational night from Smith, who posted 11 points in the third quarter alone as the Hawks cut the deficit to 80-71. The Hawks outscored the Suns, 21-12 to start the final quarter and tie the game on Joe Johnson's 3-pointer with 5:00 left in the ballgame.</p>
<p>But some guy named Steve Nash found that extra gear that all superstars have. He and Channing Frye helped the Suns to a 13-5 run to put the game away.</p>
<p>The Hawks, who were playing on the back-end of a back-to-back down three players simply had no chance.</p>
<p>Atlanta consummated a trade with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a>, shipping Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans and Jordan Crawford and a draft pick to the District of Columbia in exchange for <span>Kirk Hinrich</span> and <span>Hilton Armstrong</span>. With those three out, you'd think that coach <span>Larry Drew</span> would have relied more deeply on Atlanta's bench.</p>
<p>Instead, Drew shortened his bench and used just eight players. Perhaps it's because folks like Zaza Pachulia, Josh Powell and Etan Thomas did not match up well with a faster Suns team, but you'd think you'd want to spell some of the guys in the lineup for some period of time.</p>
<p>Jeff Teague had 10 points in a rare start at the point and Damien Wilkins added nine in some extended minutes for the Hawks, who have dropped five of their last six contests.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2011/2/23/2011774/suns-vs-hawks-score-atlanta-comeback-falls-short-phoenix-wins-105-97Phil Foley2011-02-23T22:50:50-05:002011-02-23T22:50:50-05:00Suns Vs. Hawks Score: Josh Smith Has Solid Third, Atlanta Cuts Phoenix Lead To 80-71
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<p>This one is looking very familiar to that game that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> played in Atlanta in November.</p>
<p><span>Josh Smith</span> scored 11 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter as the Hawks cuts the lead to 80-71 through three quarters.</p>
<p><span>Channing Frye</span> has 14 and <span>Jared Dudley</span> 12 for Phoenix, which lead by 14 at the break.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><span>Al Horford</span> has 12 points for the Hawks, who are shooting 46-percent from the field through the first three quarters.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2011/2/23/2011715/suns-vs-hawks-score-josh-smith-has-solid-third-atlanta-cuts-phoenixPhil Foley2011-02-23T22:21:48-05:002011-02-23T22:21:48-05:00Suns Vs. Hawks Score: Phoenix Bench Killing Atlanta, Hawks Trail 61-47 At Half
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<p>Once again, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> reserves are leading the way against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a>.</p>
<p><span>Mickael Pietrus</span> has 10 points off of the bench to lead the Suns to a 61-47 lead over the Hawks at the break. The Phoenix bench is having a field day with Atlanta, posting 35 of the Suns points in the game.</p>
<p>The undermanned Hawks simply just can't run with the Suns. They started missing shots and fell terribly behind.</p>
<p><span>Josh Smith</span> leads Atlanta with 10 points and four assists for the Hawks, but has been a non-factor on the boards. He has just one. The Hawks as a team are getting destroyed again on the boards by a 23-13 margin.</p>
<p>Phoenix is shooting 55-percent (22-for-40) from the field and is scoring both inside and out. <span>Channing Frye</span> leads the Suns with 11 points.</p>
<p><span>Joe Johnson</span> has nine points and <span>Jeff Teague</span> seven for Atlanta, which is looking to avoid a three-game losing streak.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2011/2/23/2011664/suns-vs-hawks-score-phoenix-bench-killing-atlanta-hawks-trail-61-47Phil Foley2011-02-23T21:40:07-05:002011-02-23T21:40:07-05:00Suns Vs. Hawks Score: Frye Has 11 To Lead Phoenix To 33-31 Lead Through One
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<p>No one expected there to be much defense in tonight's game between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> and there really hasn't been.</p>
<p>The good news is that Atlanta is able to do what they want on offense and are shooting inside and outside. The bad news is that Phoenix is too. As a result the Hawks are trailing, 33-31 through one quarter.</p>
<p><span>Channing Frye</span> remains red-hot for the Suns, leading all scorers with 11 points in a quarter where Phoenix is connecting on 63-percent (12-for-19) from the field and 83-percent (5-for-6) from behind the 3-point line.</p>
<p><span>Joe Johnson</span> has eight points and <span>Al Horford</span> and <span>Josh Smith</span> have six for Atlanta. The good news is that Horford hasn't missed an embarrassing dunk and Smith hasn't thrown a bad pass off of the backboard yet. But don't worry -- there's still time.</p>
<p>The Hawks are playing this one with three unlikely inactives: <span>Mike Bibby</span>, <span>Maurice Evans</span> and <span>Jordan Crawford</span>. Of course, all three guys will not play for the Hawks again this season -- they are headed to Washington. Atlanta will receive <span>Kirk Hinrich</span> and <span>Hilton Armstrong</span> in the deal, which also includes a 2011 first round pick headed to the District of Columbia.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2011/2/23/2011574/suns-vs-hawks-score-frye-has-11-to-lead-phoenix-to-33-31-lead-throughPhil Foley2011-02-23T12:01:01-05:002011-02-23T12:01:01-05:00Suns Vs. Hawks: Atlanta Looks To Rebound In The Valley Of The Sun
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<p>There's no rest for the wretched.</p>
<p>The Hawks look to rebound from their brutal 24 point loss to <span>Kobe Bryant</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> when they take on <span>Steve Nash</span>, <span>Josh Childress</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> on Wednesday night at the U.S. Airways Center (9:00 p.m., SportSouth, 97.9 FM)</p>
<p>The best thing that could have possibly happened to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> was that they quickly got onto an airplane and left Los Angeles. It's even better that they have one more game against the Suns ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.</p>
<p>Just about nothing went right for Atlanta in their 104-80 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday. They fell behind early, settled for jump shots and didn't connect on them. As a result, they connected on just 37-percent of their shots and were blown out in their first game back after the All-Star Break.</p>
<p>The Hawks, who lost four of their last five games, have been in a bit of an offensive malaise. They are averaging just 86.6 points per game over that stretch.</p>
<p>Atlanta hopes to right the ship against a tough Phoenix team that already beat them this season. The Suns posted a 118-114 win on Nov. 7 to give the Hawks their first loss of the season. Atlanta had won six straight to open the year. Nash had four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.</p>
<p>It will be the first game back after the break for the Suns, who dropped their first half finale to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> by a 112-106 margin last Thursday. <span>Channing Frye</span> had 24 in that one for Phoenix, which is in 10th place in the West.</p>
<p>The Hawks have lost five of their last six games to the Suns, including an 89-80 setback in Arizona last year.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2011/2/23/2330247/suns-vs-hawks-atlanta-looks-to-rebound-in-the-valley-of-the-sunPhil Foley