This is what the Hawks look like when they move the basketball.
Playing up-tempo from the start the Hawks ran past the Grizzlies for a 103-92 victory Wednesday night at Philips Arena.
The Hawks (27-21) had 28 assists and 16 fast-break points as they led nearly the entire game and by as many as 23 points. The NBA’s third-leading assist team improved to 20-4 this season when they have 24 or more assists.
“We made a conscious effort of getting out on the break, running for lanes and get some easy buckets in transition,” Josh Smith said. “Whenever we are able to do that on a consistent basis, on a night-in and night-out basis, we are a pretty successful team.”
Jeff Teague led the Hawks with a double-double of 22 points and 13 assists. Smith (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Al Horford (17 points, 11 rebounds) also doubled up. It was Horford's 25th double-double of the season and Smith's 20th. Kyle Korver finished with 12 points, including a record-tying 3-point mark.
The Hawks (27-21) snapped a two-game losing streak and won for the seventh time in their past 18 games.
“It’s always important to get that monkey off your back,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “When you go through a tough period the last thing you want is for it to me prolonged.
“We’ve played some good teams. We haven’t played out best basketball. I’m proud that our guys haven’t used any excuses. We’ve been shorthanded. We’ve been banged up, which all NBA teams are. Our guys have not used excuses. I will not allow them to use excuses. We just have to be men and weather the storm. We went through a tough period. I would like to think that period is over with.”
The Grizzlies (30-18) lost their second straight game and have now dropped 11 of the past 13 meetings against the Hawks. Zach Randolph had 20 points, eight in the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies’ comeback attempt fell well short.
Concerned with the size of center Marc Gasol and Randolph, Drew said he woke up Wednesday morning and decided to start Anthony Tolliver at the small forward position with DeShawn Stevenson. Drew had considered starting Johan Petro at center to combat the size disadvantage down low.
Tolliver finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
“I thought he did a phenomenal job,” Drew said. “It won’t take be going back to look at the tape to see how much he impacted the game just from the little things he was doing - constantly in Tayshaun (Prince)’s face, active hands, helping down on the post. I thought his length was very, very effective.”
The Hawks stormed out of the halftime break with an 11-0 run. The Grizzlies missed their first seven shots and committed three turnovers to start the third quarter. Smith had five and Horford added four in the run that upped the Hawks lead to 21 points. The lead grew to as many as 23 points and the Hawks took an 18-point lead into the final quarter.
The Hawks led by as many as 13 points in the second quarter and took a 58-48 into intermission. They shot 62.2 percent (23 for 37) through the first two quarters.
There was plenty of ball movement and plenty of long-range shooting to open the game. The Hawks dished out 16 assists and were 7 of 13 from 3-point range. Teague had 16 points and eight assists in the first half. Smith added 10 points, one more than he had in Tuesday’s loss at the Pacers.
The Grizzlies led only once, 5-4, on a Mike Conley 3-pointer 2:26 into the game.
“We were being aggressive,” Horford said. “We were being unselfish. That is a good sign. I hope we can build on this.”
Korver tied the franchise record with 42 straight games with a 3-pointer, equaling the mark of Mookie Blaylock (March 26, 1996-Jan. 11, 1997). Korver needs one 3-pointer to tie Vernon Maxwell for 32nd on the NBA all-time list (1,256).
The Hawks play their third game in four days when the host the Hornets Friday.
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