Hawks struggles when the mess with Texas

The next time the Hawks win a game in Texas will be the first time they’ve done it during Mike Woodson’s four-plus years as coach.

The Hawks’ last win in the Lone Star State was March 17, 2004, in Dallas, where they play tonight. That’s a stretch of 12 games, including stops in Houston and San Antonio, where they play on back-to-back nights this week (Tuesday and Wednesday).

“I don’t remember being close in Texas,” fourth-year Hawks forward Marvin Williams said before the Hawks faced the New York Knicks Friday night at Philips Arena. “We haven’t been the best road team in the past. But those are good teams, really good teams at home. Every one of those teams is competing for a championship.”

Woodson said the “Texas Triangle” is the equivalent of a Western Conference road trip in degree of difficulty.

“It’s like going out to play the Lakers, Denver and Utah,” Woodson said. “Those teams in Texas have been great for a long time. And it hasn’t changed. All three of them are back to playing great again right now. So we have to figure things out when we get there and see if we can find a way to win.”

Gator party

With Al Horford on the Hawks’ roster and David Lee on the Knicks’ roster, there was a perfectly logical explanation for all the orange and blue in the crowd to see the former Florida Gators do battle. Another former Gator, Anthony Roberson, is also on the Knicks’ roster.

With all the Gators fans in town for tonight’s Southeastern Conference championship game at the Georgia Dome, Horford was expecting a large presence for Friday’s game.

“That’s what we call a perfect storm,” he said with a smile. “The Gator family doesn’t need an invitation. They just know when to show up.”

Law out with the flu

Second-year Hawks point guard Acie Law IV missed Friday’s game with flu-like symptoms but was scheduled to meet the team for their charter flight to Dallas after the game.