PHOENIX -- Help is on the way for the Hawks, but it didn't arrive in time to prevent the Suns from becoming the latest team to exploit one of their weaknesses.
The Hawks' issues with guarding ball-handlers contributed to their 105-97 loss to the Suns. The Hawks rallied to tie the game late after trailing by as many as 18 points, but then succumbed to a 10-2 Phoenix run over the final five minutes.
Atlanta has lost five of its past six games and three in a row. They continue their seven-game road trip with games at Golden State on Friday, Portland on Sunday and Denver on Monday.
The Hawks took the court less than two hours after competing a trade with the Wizards. They hope their acquisition of Kurt Hinrich will improve their perimeter defense.
If so, the Hawks won't have to use drastic measures such as the switching defensive scheme they employed against Phoenix. It might be their best hope to contain the perimeter, but the Suns were too crisp and skilled.
Josh Smith scored 26 points for the Hawks, who also got 19 points from reserve Jamal Crawford. Channing Frye led the Suns with 20 points while Marcin Gortat's 13 points and 12 rebounds helped Phoenix's bench dominate.
The Hawks trailed 61-43 late in the first half and 61-47 at halftime as Phoenix's reserves outscored their Hawks counterparts 35-13. The Hawks rallied early in the fourth quarter.
Damien Wilkins made a 3-pointer, and Joe Johnson's steal led to Crawford's 3-pointer on the break to cut the lead to 85-79. Phoenix's Jared Dudley answered with a 3-pointer, but another Crawford 3-pointer and Smith's 3-point play in transition got the Hawks within 88-85.
Crawford's third consecutive field goal trimmed the Hawks' deficit to 88-87 with less than seven minutes to play. But the Suns took over after Johnson's 3-pointer tied the score at 92-92 with five minutes to play.
Steve Nash scored, Dudley's steal led to Frye's turnaround jump shot, and Gortat's bank shot pushed Phoenix's lead back to 98-92 with 3:01 left. Al Horford's basket pulled the Hawks within 100-94 in the final minute, but that's as close as they could get.
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