Hawks control 2nd half, hand NY 5th straight loss

By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer Nov 11, 11:02 pm EST

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NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Knicks tried playing from ahead for a change.

No matter. The deeper, more athletic Atlanta Hawks simply overwhelmed them in the second half.

Al Horford(notes) scored a season-high 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Josh Smith(notes) added 22 points and 12 boards, and the Hawks sent the Knicks to their fifth straight loss with a 114-101 victory Wednesday night.

Joe Johnson(notes) and Mike Bibby(notes) each had 19 points for the Hawks, who trailed by 14 in the first half but scored 67 points after halftime, seizing control late in the third quarter and pulling away midway through the fourth.

“We can wear a team down with our depth and our athleticism, and the way we’re able to switch we can kind of stop a lot of plays being ran,” Smith said. “We didn’t play our best basketball, so we had to turn it around in the second half and we did.”

Former Knicks guard Jamal Crawford(notes) added nine of his 11 in the second half. Fellow reserve Maurice Evans(notes), part of Atlanta’s bolstered bench, scored 12.

The Knicks like to play fast but the Hawks ran right by them, outscoring New York 21-8 in fast-break points.

“We’ve grown,” Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. “The last two years we’ve been in some tough games. We’ve won some tough ones and we’ve lost. You know this team hasn’t quit these last two years and it’s a sign of the guys in that locker room. We’re all fighting for something. We’re trying to be better than a year ago.”

Rookie Toney Douglas(notes) scored a season-high 23 points in his first start for the Knicks (1-8), off to their worst start since also dropping eight of nine to open the 2002-03 season. Al Harrington(notes) also had 23 and grabbed 12 rebounds, but drew loud groans from the crowd after botching a wide-open layup with a little more than 4 minutes left.

New York had trailed by 20 or more in six of its first eight games, but this time built a solid cushion despite another dismal outing from point guard Chris Duhon(notes), who was 0 for 6 with two assists and three turnovers.

“Obviously he’s going to have to play better and hopefully he’ll do it,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said.

Trailing by five, Atlanta scored 12 straight points late in the third quarter, opening a 78-71 lead on Crawford’s 3-pointer with 2:50 left. Horford had a three-point play and another bucket in the run and finished with 14 points in the period, when Atlanta made 14 of 20 shots to open an 84-77 advantage.

“In the first half we missed a lot of easy shots. I did myself,” Horford said. “Coach told us to stay confident and keep fighting. I think in the second half that’s what we did and how we were able to pull away. We came out and were more aggressive. I think that was the difference.”

Crawford and Horford had back-to-back baskets early in the fourth to extend the lead to 11 and the Knicks wouldn’t get closer than eight again. The Hawks shot 54 percent for the game.

Plagued all season by slow starts, the Knicks went with another lineup change, inserting Douglas for Larry Hughes(notes), and quickly opened a 14-7 lead. The Hawks cut it to 25-23 after one quarter, but New York used a 10-2 spurt to open a 37-27 on Harrington’s follow dunk with 8:24 remaining in the half.

Hughes, who went from not playing at all to a starter to a reserve, finished with 14 points and eight assists.

“You always want to know when you’re going in and what’s your rotation and things like that,” Hughes said. “Once you hit the court, you kind of have to get in where you fit in really and go out and make positive plays, give positive energy.”

The Knicks extended the lead to 14—their largest of the season—with 2 1/2 minutes to go after the second of Harrington’s consecutive baskets, before Atlanta scored the final six to cut it to 54-47 at the break.

NOTES: The Knicks host Golden State on Friday to finish a stretch of three straight and seven of eight games at home. … New York was still without reserve guard Nate Robinson(notes) (sprained right ankle), who could return Friday. … The Knicks had three six-game losing streaks last season.

Updated Nov 11, 11:02 pm EST
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48 Comments

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  1. anonymous
    48. Posted by anonymous Thu Nov 12 11:34pm EST

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    34....44....54? damn,dog. do i hear 64? lol,be loyal,cause they sure as hell need your "loyalty" and once again,you wanted that "34,44,54" year old joe johnson for harrington. Stop with the contradiction,dog. I could care less about your loyalty and the knicks,but don't talk down on the hawks,when your team is just as sorry as they want to be,man. Stop catching feelings. Peace!
  2. slimey
    47. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 9:00pm EST

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    loyalty commands acknowledgement ,thats why im here,i will be a fan when they are 1--8,and i will be there when there 8---1......if im still alive 2 c it.its not written yet,we might make a push,and its not too late ,so take your hawks and your 54 year old j johnson and shove em bra
  3. anonymous
    46. Posted by anonymous Thu Nov 12 8:22pm EST

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    Yea,but they will still be in the playoffs,getting the respect they have came far to get. Nobody will acknowledge the Knicks.
  4. slimey
    45. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 3:48pm EST

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    i agree your team owns mine,very true but they still aint going nowhere,1st round maybe
  5. Jordo
    44. Posted by Jordo Thu Nov 12 2:54pm EST

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    Starting 5-
    Douglas
    Hughes
    Gallo
    Chandler
    Lee

    Duhon's gotta get benched, at least no starting b/c he is not bringing it. Once he gets it back then maybe but this needs to be done!
  6. anonymous
    43. Posted by anonymous Thu Nov 12 12:55pm EST

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    Oh,yea. Most of those turnovers were taken place,when the Knicks were beating the Hawks in double digits.(The first half) And yet.....the Hawks came back and beat the Knicks in double digits. It's a sad case for the Knicks. You guys need a remedy, cause these boys are sure as hell in need for it. Once again, don't take it out on the team that did the damage to your Knicks, better yet just leave it be,because the Knicks did the damage to themselves.
  7. anonymous
    42. Posted by anonymous Thu Nov 12 12:49pm EST

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    lol..so what if he had turnovers and yet,you want him over harrington? Been there done that. He was already in Atlanta. Harrington is mediocre....hell not even mediocre. I don't know what he is,cause it's not higher than mediocre. And that's all he will ever be. First Joe Johnson was 34, now 44. Right,pal! I guess that's why he's acknowledge for his all-star presence,huh? lol,you silly,man. He makes a few turnovers and he plays like a 34--oops,I mean 44 year old player. Seriously,stop it. He made turnovers and still owned the Knicks. Especially, Wilson Chandler. The sad part about this all is, I don't know much about the Knicks current rooster. It's like they got the Knicks players for the alley somewhere. Sad stuff, man. Even you must admit that. By the way, give props when it's due. Just because the Knicks are in a loop, don't rain on the Hawks parade.
  8. Steven
    41. Posted by Steven Thu Nov 12 9:48am EST

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    50 cent loves gossip girl and he watches every eposide of it.
  9. slimey
    40. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 7:17am EST

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    It took 19 attemts for him to get his 20 lousy ass points,wanna trade for harrington?
  10. slimey
    39. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 7:12am EST

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    4 assists and 5 turnovers yeah okay,he plays like hes 44 ,and he wont change our situation,thats what im talking about.atlanta has already got his replacement.....jamaal crawford.whoever signs him is gonna end up with a scorer that dissappears in big games
  11. richard
    38. Posted by richard Thu Nov 12 3:55am EST

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    At this point, the Knicks should trade for Allen Iverson. Seriously. He can score, dish, and would be an attraction for NYK fans waiting for some star power. Lebron isn't coming to the Knicks, so stop right there. He has a better chance of winning a ring w/ the Cavs.

    A I wants out of Memphis, and NY could send Duhon to Memphis in exchange. With A I, Hughes, Harrington, Darko, etc..crew, they could make a run @ the 8th seed in the playoffs. It could happen; the talent is there,and D' Antoni could make it happen. Let's see....
  12. IB
    37. Posted by IB Thu Nov 12 3:49am EST

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    I'm really dissapointed in this team
  13. anonymous
    36. Posted by anonymous Thu Nov 12 3:22am EST

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    Slimey,what the hell are you talking about? I only know of one Joe Johnson and he plays for the Atlanta Hawks and he is NOT 34;He is 28. Definitely, not a selfish player. Why? Because he got the win tonight, and NOT your precious knicks. lol. He carries the team with loads of assists, that is NOT a selfish player. That's a player that tries to get the team involve, rather if he's doing poorly and badly.
  14. slimey
    35. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 1:16am EST

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    I cant believe im losing sleep for these scrubs,its hard being a knickfan under these circumstances
  15. slimey
    34. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 1:03am EST

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    Its going to be really hard getting a trade,when front offices see these jakoffs were dangling
  16. slimey
    33. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 12:59am EST

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    We need larry hughes to take over the pg position,hes a good defender,and his game is aggressive enough to start,he can do a decent job passing too
  17. <i>dexter4269</i>
    32. Posted by dexter4269 Thu Nov 12 12:54am EST

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    lol.

    if they are thinking about tanking, they are wrong. utah is smiling everytime the knicks lose and they are going to take it to the bank this June :(
  18. slimey
    31. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 12:53am EST

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    1 or 2 ,its not important anymore,those were like 40 years ago,we need to get on the map again,and harrington is making it worse with his unpredictable shot selection
  19. slimey
    30. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 12:46am EST

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    That 1-8 record sure humbled dantoni, hes looking to start eddy curry,the guy he was dying to lose .......and he's looking for starbury's cell phone number
  20. <i>dexter4269</i>
    29. Posted by dexter4269 Thu Nov 12 12:38am EST

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    I meant to say winning TRADITION. my bad on the typo, ok? I was being sarcastic in the last post.

    But you fail on how many titles they won. it's 2, not one. thank you.

    The last 9-10 years have sucked, but just a little more patient and we'll turn it around. just disgusts me how they start the year 1-8 (and more losses to come before we get W #2). why isnt D. Lee playing up to his intensity like last year? It's like everybody on the team is dead and Harrington is trying to be his own 1 man team.
  21. fred
    28. Posted by fred Thu Nov 12 12:16am EST

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    If you or me went to work and F##K UP somebody would be walking us to the front door..If some people on the Knicks took that walk i bet win then....(and not just the players)
  22. slimey
    27. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 12:13am EST

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    Jeffries---you are one of the biggest mistakes of isiah thomas's tenure,you are a highly paid moron who just cant play a respectable role no matter what it is
  23. slimey
    26. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 12:09am EST

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    Harrington - jordan hill is your replacement,they will not extend your contract......trust me on that one!!!!!
  24. slimey
    25. Posted by slimey Thu Nov 12 12:05am EST

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    Dont worry duhon when your contract expires you can be a commentator....for duke university games,you can be the first 27 year old idiot to retire from basketball
  25. slimey
    24. Posted by slimey Wed Nov 11 11:59pm EST

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    Winning is a habit....unfortunatly so is losing!!!!
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Atlanta
J. Smith Josh Smith
10-15,  22 Pts
12 Rebs, 4 Assists
 New York
A. Harrington Al Harrington
10-21,  23 Pts
12 Rebs, 3 Assists

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