Hawks take third of the season against Boston

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BOSTON -- The first half looked familiar.

The second half was a revelation.

Showing tenacity that had been missing for some time, the Hawks pulled off perhaps the steal of the season, a 102-96 win over Boston Monday night. They came back from 14 points down in the third quarter, equaling their largest comeback of the season by clamping down defensively on the Celtics and showing icy will on the offensive end.

"This team has grown," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "I don't care how you cut it. We don't have to be considered as one of the elite teams, but we're a good team in the NBA that's fighting for something."

This was the Hawks' third win over Boston in as many tries and their second in four days. After getting swept by the Celtics (26-10) in the past two seasons, the Hawks (24-13) have a chance to go 4-0 against them Jan. 29 at Philips Arena. The last time the Hawks swept a four-game season series from Boston was the 1995-96 season.

It was a considerable departure from the Hawks' 113-81 surrender to Orlando on Saturday.

"An emotional game," center Al Horford said. "Unlike the Orlando game, we didn't get down on ourselves. We kept on fighting, kept on scrapping and this is a big for us on the road, to be able to come back and beat a team like this."

Boston was considerably short-staffed, with forwards Kevin Garnett (knee) and Rasheed Wallace (foot) on the sidelines. The Celtics instead started Brian Scalabrine, who came into the game averaging 1.1 points per game.

The personnel seemed to matter little, as the Celtics pushed out to leads that surged to 11 points in the first quarter and 14 in the second and third. After Boston shot 59.5 percent in the first half, Woodson challenged the team and Jamal Crawford in particular to tighten up defensively.

The Hawks received a huge break with 6:16 left in the third, when Boston coach Doc Rivers was hit with two technicals to get tossed. Assistant Armond Hill immediately picked up a third technical, arguing a flagrant foul call on forward Glen Davis on a fast-break attempt by forward Marvin Williams.

The Hawks made four of the five free throws to close to 67-61, the closest they had been since seven minutes remained in the second quarter. It was part of a 20-8 run that produced a 75-75 tie when Crawford sank a 3-pointer from the right wing with 53.6 seconds to go in the quarter.

Said Crawford, "We never felt like we were out of the game."

In the fourth, the Hawks held Boston to 5-of-16 shooting while they made 9-of-17 shots, limiting the Celtics to one offensive rebound and forcing three turnovers. Down 80-77 at the start of the quarter, the Hawks won the period 25-16 to take the game. Guard Joe Johnson made 5-of-8 shots in the period, including both 3-point attempts, on his way to a game-high 36.

"He showed why he's an All-Star tonight," Horford said.

It ran counter to the Hawks' performance of late. They had come into the game having lost five of their last seven, defeats in which they were either run off the floor or buckled in the fourth quarter.

Said Woodson, "Our team just stayed steady and continued to play, and that's what you have to do."