Hornets snap Hawks’ 7-game win streak
November 22, 2009
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—Rookie Darren Collison(notes) had 22 points and 11 assists for hisfirst double-double, and the New Orleans Hornets won their third straight whilesnapping the Atlanta Hawks’ seven-game winning streak, 96-88 on Saturday night.
Fellow rookie Marcus Thornton(notes) scored 21 for the resurgent Hornets, who made12 of 17 3-point attempts. Peja Stojakovic(notes) hit five from long range and finishedwith 17 points, while David West(notes) had 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
Jamal Crawford(notes) scored 20 for the Hawks, who became the second straightdivision leader to lose in New Orleans after Phoenix fell to the Hornets onThursday night.
Atlanta Hawks forward Joe Smit… AP – Nov 21, 9:53 pm EST New Orleans Hornets guard Chri… AP – Nov 21, 9:52 pm EST
Atlanta Hawks forward Maurice … AP – Nov 21, 9:41 pm EST
Atlanta Hawks center Al Horfor… AP – Nov 21, 9:40 pm EST
Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woods… AP – Nov 21, 9:39 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 4; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.0beffe88269a4303a78e07b4f9017a3b.hawks_hornets_basketball_lawh105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=274&hc=304&q=70&sig=KFoZ4y96nFlAh7fzqmuxIw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.56e859accb3c401bb85bbab1f0a832f2.hawks_hornets_basketball_lawh102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=50&yc=1&wc=311&hc=345&q=70&sig=DohsyAJjhqSsJNWrDuJcKA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.3916210ab0814303ab5141210d4e180c.hawks_hornets_basketball_lawh101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=342&hc=380&q=70&sig=WYK5JV_98uPAwweP23JxEg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.781f6166c9c54cefbeb44a8d693d30f5.hawks_hornets_basketball_lawh103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=342&hc=380&q=70&sig=paljgwTzsMlU3ZG25ETK9g--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 5 Atl-NO Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
Marvin Williams(notes) added 17, and Josh Smith(notes) had 14 points and 10 rebounds, butAtlanta went 4 of 22 from 3-point range.
New Orleans led throughout the second half, withstanding every Atlantasurge. Collison and Thornton, drafted in the first and second rounds,respectively, showed poise when it mattered, as they have in three straightgames.
After Maurice Evans’(notes) driving layup as he was fouled pulled Atlanta to 59-56,Collison came back with a 3 and fast-break dunk. When Crawford’s jumper made it64-60 late in the third quarter, Collison hit his second 3, then West followedwith a driving layup off the glass and Thornton a breakaway dunk to make it71-60 heading into the fourth quarter.
Thornton created shots with slashing moves to the hoop and took open jumperswith confidence and without hesitation. He scored 10 points in the final period,notching one three-point play on a tough driving layup into a crowd and laterhitting his second 3-pointer of the game to make it 81-71.
Joe Johnson(notes) had 14 points, and Al Horford(notes) had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Hornets outshot the Hawks 43.5 percent to 37.2 percent. Emeka Okafor(notes) had10 rebounds and blocked three shots.
Atlanta jumped out to a 10-2 lead largely because of poor early shooting byNew Orleans, which started 1 of 11 from the field. Hawks starting guard MikeBibby(notes) left the game during that stretch with a sprained left ankle.
Soon after, Stojakovic got in rhythm from long range, hitting four straight3-pointers during a 16-3 run that gave New Orleans an 18-13 lead.
New Orleans continued to pull away for much of the second quarter, goingahead 45-31 after Okafor’s block sent Collison the other way for a fast-breaklayup.
Atlanta responded with a 9-0 run, highlighted by Williams’ 3 and dunk toclose the gap. Collison’s jumper as the shot clock wound down gave the Hornets a49-42 lead at halftime.
NOTES: Hornets reserve center Hilton Armstrong(notes) played for the first timesince spraining his shoulder in practice last Monday. … The Hawks won the onlyother meeting this season 121-98 in Atlanta one week ago. … Okafor has had atleast one block in all but one game this season. … Collison has scored indouble figures in six straight games. … The Hawks had won two straight on theroad coming in. … Smith, who came in leading the NBA with 34 blocks, addedthree more.