Hawks keep emotions in check

Zaza Pachulia pumped his fist at least four times. Josh Smith pumped his a time or too as well.

But other than the occasional flash, the Hawks kept their emotions in check throughout their 86-76 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday.

“We couldn’t afford to go overboard,” Pachulia said after 11-point, 13-rebound effort off the bench. “These games are too important for us to lose our heads. And this game was a perfect example. We had the biggest crowd of the season and the whole thing was full of energy. We just tried to feed off of that and use to it to our advantage.”

Flip Murray chimed in with 14 points off the bench, including a game-sealing pull up jumper with 1:17 to play. But it was his usual timely performance.

Pachulia’s contribution was much needed with starting center Al Horford struggling with fouls early and his shot the entire game.

“Zaza came in and provided big minutes for us,” Horford said. “Flip Murray always brings energy off the bench. It was just a great team effort.”

Super Mario does it again

Pachulia and Murray weren’t the only players to come off the bench and give the Hawks a jolt Sunday. Mario West did his part.

He played six frantic minutes in the second quarter, including some fearless defense on Lakers superstar and reigning league MVP Kobe Bryant.

He scored on a put back and a reverse layup, finishing with four points to go along with some in-your-face defense on Bryant.

“Mario brings so much energy and effort,” Mo Evans said. “You just can’t help but respect it and root for it when he’s out there. That effort he gave us was huge tonight.”

Crowd noise

Sunday’s sellout crowd of 20,148 set the Philips Arena single game attendance record for the regular season in the building’s nearly 10-year history.

It also inspired the Hawks, what with all the folks clad in Lakers jerseys in the stands.

“Maybe it did a little bit,” Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson said. “Really, this was about us losing those two games [to San Antonio and Boston] at home this week and the fact that we have to protect our court. This is our house and we have to treat it that way.”