After defeating the Bulls while playing Chicago's grinding style, the Hawks tried to engage the Thunder in a shootout on Friday night at Philips Arena.
It didn't work.
With defensive catalyst and second-leading scorer Josh Smith (knee) sidelined, the Hawks couldn't slow Oklahoma City's potent offense and lost 111-104. The Thunder swept the two-game season series with the Hawks for the second consecutive season.
The Hawks came back from 19 points down to beat Chicago on Wednesday behind rugged defense and Al Horford's offensive eruption. But the Thunder are a much better offensive team and boast a pair of All-Star scorers in forward Kevin Durant and guard Russell Westbrook.
Durant scored 29 points, and Westbrook had 28. Hawks coach Larry Drew was less concerned with those two making jump shots than he was with Oklahoma City's 54 points in the paint and more aggressive play.
"They played with a physicality that we did not match," Drew said. "That's playoff-caliber basketball, and you look at all the teams that are coming in here, they are playoff-bound. They are bringing that playoff energy and that playoff intensity, and we have to bring ours."
The Hawks (37-25) came up short in their latest comeback bid.
They trailed the Thunder (38-22) by 13 points in the fourth quarter before trimming the lead to 102-100 on Marvin Williams' rebound basket with 1:27 to go. Westbrook answered with a 3-pointer and then motioned his hands as if he were holstering pistols.
"That's a shot that we would live with," Drew said. "The only thing is we didn't contest it. He knocked down a big shot."
After Horford and Jamal Crawford missed shots, Durant made two free throws to make the score 107-100. The Thunder made four more free throws from there to complete a season sweep of the Hawks for the second consecutive year.
The Hawks never did figure out how to slow Oklahoma City's star duo.
The Hawks had trouble containing Westbrook's quickness on the perimeter. When defenders backed off, he scored; when the Hawks were aggressive, he got to the basket for scores or passed to teammates.
Durant, meanwhile, is among the toughest players in the NBA to defend because he's 6-foot-9 and athletic, with long arms and shooting range. Durant, who was questionable to play because of an ankle injury, made four of five 3-point attempts.
"He showed no signs of being hurt at all," Hawks guard Joe Johnson said. "I give him a lot of credit. He willed them to victory. He and Westbrook are a great tandem."
Johnson (24 points) and Kirk Hinrich (21) nearly kept pace with those two. But in addition to soft defense, the Hawks had 16 turnovers that the Thunder converted into 27 points.
The Bulls and Thunder were two of the six consecutive teams on the Hawks' schedule in early March that are on pace for playoff appearances.
"We are all right, man," Johnson said. "We are in a good position right now. We control our own destiny with these last 20 games left. Somewhere along the line we have to string together five, six, seven, eight good wins."
The Hawks started off hot with four field goals and two free throws on their opening six possessions. That 11-4 lead didn't last long, though, and the Thunder led 31-26 after making 13 of 22 shots in the first quarter.
The Hawks had lots of factors work against them in the first half. Horford played only 11 minutes because of foul trouble, Johnson went to the locker room with a cut lip and Westbrook and Durant combined to score 29 points while making 12 of 20 field-goal attempts.
Yet the Hawks were down just 56-51 at halftime. Oklahoma City took control with a 10-3 run late in the third quarter and led 83-73 entering the final period.
About the Author
