Atlanta (9-23) at Washington (13-19)
Currently: - Game info: 7:00 pm EST Wed Jan 11, 2006
- TV: WPXA, CSMA
The struggling Washington Wizards hope to get back on track when they host the NBA-worst Atlanta Hawks, a team they’ve beaten five straight times.
Washington has lost five of its last six games overall, including Monday’s 97-89 defeat to Utah at the MCI Center. Antawn Jamison led all scorers with a season-high 30 points, but Washington couldn’t recover from a 47-33 halftime deficit.
“Right now, we’re disjointed,” said center Brendan Haywood, who has not scored in double figures in his last eight games. “We’re not a team. I think everybody likes each other, everybody’s out there playing hard, but we’re not always playing hard and smart.”
The defeat dropped Washington to 1-3 during a five-game stretch coach Eddie Jordan had targeted to turn around the season.
“If we go into the next game and come out with a win, 5-5 isn’t too bad over the last 10,” Jordan said.
Gilbert Arenas had just 14 points Monday, his second-lowest total of the season and well below his average of 29 per game. He played only 33 minutes, sitting much of the third quarter due to foul trouble.
“I admire his competitiveness,” Jordan said of Arenas. “As much as I admire it, I thought that he was trying too hard.”
The Hawks have played significantly better over the last month, going 7-7 since Dec. 10. They lost 98-94 to Boston on Tuesday night, failing to complete their first three-game winning streak since April 2004.
“That was a good goal,” said Josh Childress, who had 13 points off the bench. “We really should have had this game.”
Atlanta led by as many as 16 points, but managed just 32 points after halftime on 33 percent shooting. Former Celtics’ first-round draft pick Joe Johnson made just 2-of-10 shots after halftime.
“We weren’t scoring and we weren’t stopping them,” Johnson said. “We couldn’t come up with the big play.”
The Hawks are 2-2 in the new year as they play their first eight January games against teams with losing records. After visiting Washington, Atlanta plays Friday at New York, then hosts the Wizards and the Houston Rockets.
Team Comparison
| Team | Record | Standings | PF | PA | Road/Home | Streak | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 26-56 | 5th Southeast / 14th East | 97.2 | 102.0 | Road 8-33 | Lost 1 | 4-6 |
| Washington | 42-40 | 2nd Southeast / 5th East | 101.7 | 99.8 | Home 27-14 | Won 3 | 5-5 |
Blog Coverage from SB Nation
Peachtree Hoops
Bullets ForeverNotes
Former Hawks owner Ted Turner watched from a front-row seat. ... With G Acie Law sidelined by a back injury, the Hawks dressed G Speedy Claxton. The $25 million bust went more than two years without playing until the final week of the season, and he actually got on the court in the waning minutes with the outcome long since decided.
Apr 19, 11:06 pm EDT
F Caron Butler scored a season-high 39 points but couldn't keep the Wizards from matching their worst record for an 82-game season, 19-63, last in the Eastern Conference. ... Washington's Javaris Crittenton did not return after spraining his right ankle with 3:45 left in the third quarter.
Apr 15, 11:24 pm EDT