Hawks dominate Jazz for rare victory in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY--Perhaps this is the game that finally gets the Hawks on a roll.

In what was easily their most impressive effort of the season, the Hawks dominated the Jazz for a 110-87 victory Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena. The Hawks finished their first extended Western Conference road trip with a 3-1 record and head back to Atlanta with victories in five of their last six games.

The victory against Utah was surprisingly lopsided under the circumstances. The Hawks won for just the third time in nine road games against opponents with winning records and started a winning streak in a city where they once went 17 years without a victory.

Atlanta's 105-100 victory at Utah on Feb. 22, 2010 ended a 15-game losing streak in Utah. The Hawks hadn't won in Utah since Feb. 13, 1993, when Dominique Wilkins scored 43 points to lead Atlanta to a 121-112 victory.

This time the Hawks beat the Jazz by using the kind of balanced scoring approach favored by coach Larry Drew. Joe Johnson scored 28 points, Jamal Crawford had 26 and three other players had double figures in scoring as Utah never could slow Atlanta's efficient offensive attack.

The Hawks played at Sacramento Tuesday night while Utah last played Monday at home against Memphis. Yet the Hawks (23-14) were sharper from start to finish.

Atlanta scored the first basket of the game and never gave the lead back. The Hawks led 30-17 after a quarter, 55-41 at the half and by as many as 25 points in the second half.

Atlanta started the game defending with vigor, rebounding and running. It's the same formula the Hawks used to race out to a big lead Tuesday at Sacramento, but the Kings have the league's worst record.

It was another thing to blow out the Jazz (24-12), who have traditionally been a tough and physical defensive team under long-time coach Jerry Sloan. Utah was without rugged forward Paul Milsap (hip) but it's doubtful he could have slowed the Hawks from passing around the perimeter for open jump shots.

The Jazz lost for just the second time in eight games against Eastern Conference opponents. The Miami Heat won 111-98 at Utah on Dec. 8.

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