Hawks grind out win over Washington

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Washington Wizards were without their best player and playing the second night of a back-to-back pair.

The Hawks, however, didn't have much of an excuse.

Wednesday's Hawks-Wizards game was no masterpiece. However, the Hawks did enough to take their second game in a row, third at home and seventh over Washington, pushing past the Wizards 94-82 at Philips Arena.

"It was an ugly game tonight, but we came out on top," said center Al Horford, who had nearly as many fouls (five) as points (seven). "That's the way I like to end those kinds of games."

Two days after an emotional road win over Boston, the Hawks started a five-game homestand by improving their record to 25-13. Washington lost its fourth game out of five since guard Gilbert Arenas was suspended by the NBA for his part in a locker-room gun incident. The Wizards are 12-25.

Three players stood out for the Hawks, guards Jamal Crawford, Jeff Teague and Mario West. The latter signed Tuesday a 10-day contract out of the NBA's D-League. Teague and West, a fan favorite who made the team two years ago as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia Tech before getting cut in training camp this year, gave the Hawks a boost in the second quarter after both teams sloughed through a first quarter that ended 17-13 in the Hawks' favor.

To start the second quarter, the Hawks hit the Wizards with a 23-5 run to open up a 40-18 lead, with Teague and West making a number of different plays. The run, made with various Hawks' second-unit members on the floor, gave the Hawks enough of a cushion to withstand repeated rallies by the Wizards.

The 6-foot-5 West made a tip-in over 6-9 Antawn Jamison, played sticky defense and was seemingly everywhere. Teague recovered from a screen to block Earl Boykins from behind. He also deflected and stole a Nick Young pass to set up Horford in transition.

West, who as recently as this past weekend was a Maine Red Claw, had five points and five rebounds (four of them offensive) in 12 minutes of play.

"It feels good to have [West] back," said forward Marvin Williams, who himself contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, a career-high-tying four blocks, two steals and two assists. "It was tough to see him go. I think everybody was kind of bummed out when he first had to leave, but to have him back puts a smile on everybody's face."

Washington recovered in the third quarter and pulled within 66-64 in the first minute of the fourth quarter. The Hawks turned to Crawford, who delivered a 3-pointer to push the lead back to five points. They were the first three of 14 fourth-quarter points for Crawford on 6-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range.

It came on the heels of Crawford's closing act against Boston on Monday, when he scored 17 points in the final 19 minutes as the Hawks came back and then held off the Celtics. Among the highlights was a fake pass in transition to forward Josh Smith that reeled in DeShawn Stevenson and gave Crawford space to drop in a layup.

"I really enjoy playing in the fourth quarter," said Crawford, who finished with 22 points. "I think that's winning time and I feel comfortable in it."

Etc.

The Hawks were without swingman Mo Evans and forward Zaza Pachulia. Evans missed the game for the birth of his child, Reese Evans. She is the first child for him and his wife, Alexandra. Pachulia had flu-like symptoms and did not attend the game.