CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Even injury-riddled, the Hawks were way too much for the lowly Bobcats.
Fielding a team of just 10 healthy players, the Hawks blew past the Bobcats in the third quarter en route to a 104-92 victory Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Arena.
The Hawks (24-18) won their second straight game, the first time they’ve accomplished that feat since Dec. 28-29.
The Hawks jumped to a 17-point lead in the third quarter as Josh Smith scored eight of the team’s first 10 points coming out of halftime. The Bobcats trimmed their deficit to nine points in the fourth quarter but could get no closer even with Michael Jordan in attendance.
The Hawks have won eight straight against the Bobcats, including completing the season sweep of four games against their Southeast Division foe. The victory also snapped the Hawks six-game road losing streak.
Smith led the Hawks with a double-double of a game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds with eight assists. Smith finished just a point shy of his season-high of 31 points set Dec. 26 against the Pistons. Kyle Korver scored 21 points and Ivan Johnson, making his first NBA start, had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
“Same way I come out all the time,” Johnson said of his start. “I’m trying to get the big money. I need some more money. … I’m used to battling against big people. That’s what I grew up doing, playing with big people. I’m good with it.”
The Hawks played without Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia, Devin Harris and Anthony Morrow after already losing Lou Williams for the season. The Hawks started their 14th different lineup this season, including each of the past six games.
“They are all important,” Korver said of the much-needed victory. “At the end of the day, every game is worth one. It doesn’t matter if you are playing Boston, our next game, or today here. I thought the guys who were here played well. We had some guys step up. … I thought that everyone who played, played well. That’s a good sign.”
The Bobcats (10-32) lost their third straight and have won just three times in the past 30 games. They have lost 16 straight home games, a streak that started with a loss to the Hawks here on Nov. 21.
Ramon Sessions led the Bobcats with 27 points, including the team’s first eight points of the fourth quarter.
In spite of their size disadvantage without their top two centers, coach Larry Drew said he looked to Smith to take advantage of his matchup inside.
“We kept it simple once we went inside,” Drew said. “Josh is a guy, from a post-up standpoint, he can command a double team. It’s just a matter of being patient with that and playing out of it. As I told him, when we post the ball with him I want him to make a play down there. I want him to make the smart play, but more importantly I want him to make the simple play. If he can get to the basket, get to the basket. If the double-team comes, make the simple pass out. He did that and we got some really good looks.”
The Hawks led by as many as 10 points in the first half and had a seven-point advantage, 53-46, at intermission. Smith led the Hawks’ early advantage with 16 first-half points and Korver had 12, including nine in the second quarter. The Hawks never trailed after taking an 11-10 lead with 6:32 left in the first quarter.
The Hawks opened the third quarter with a 17-7 run for the insurmountable lead.
“That was a really good win for our club,” Drew said. “We came in here a little-shorthanded, without Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia, and I was a little concerned about our big-man play but that was the answer tonight. I thought Ivan Johnson stepped in and did a phenomenal job. He was a presence on the floor. He stepped in and scored. He rebounded the ball. He took a charge. I’ve always said about Ivan, any time he’s on the floor he makes his presence felt.”
The Hawks next host the Celtics on Friday.
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