Former Hawks coach Mike Woodson was back at Philips Arena on Friday, and so were the many Knicks fans who always infiltrate the building when their team is in town.
Those made for good stories, but the Hawks had more pressing and practical concerns. They needed to stop a two-game skid and turn back a Knicks team that had won eight of nine games since Woodson took over as head coach.
“We have to focus on what we have to do,” Drew said before the game. “It won’t be about New York tonight.”
Willie Green made sure of it. The reserve guard erupted for 15 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Hawks to a 100-90 victory.
The Knicks’ winning streak ended at three games and they lost for only the second time in 10 games since Woodson took over on an interim basis. The Hawks (31-22) earned their seventh victory in the past 10 games.
Hawks guard Joe Johnson scored 28 points, Josh Smith 23 and Green 20 to offset 36 points from Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. Green made six of seven shots in the final quarter.
The Hawks led by as many as 15 points in the first half and by 12 at the half. But Anthony and former Georgia Tech standout Iman Shumpert rallied New York in the third quarter.
Anthony scored 12 points and Shumpert 11 during the period as New York scored 29 points to close within 74-69. The Knicks twice cut the lead to three points early in the final period before Green took over.
Anthony made a 3-pointer to end the third quarter, energizing Knicks fans who had watched their team labor to score and struggle to slow the Hawks. That set up a spirited finish before the Hawks finally pulled away.
“It’s going to be a playoff atmosphere,” Hawks forward Josh Smith predicted. “I am sure there will be more Knicks fans than Hawks fans because there are so many New Yorkers that live here. You are definitely going to get some physical play because both teams need to win so much.”
It was of no comfort to Drew that the Knicks were missing All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire (back) and point-guard sensation Jeremy Lin (knee). New York still had Anthony and defensive ace Tyson Chandler.
Plus, Drew noted that the Hawks have relaxed at times this season against short-handed opponents. Most notable was in a 116-109 loss to Miami in January when the Heat were missing stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
“The tendency from a mental standpoint is to have a letdown,” Drew said before the game. “Somehow, some way we have to play better those situations.”
The Hawks found the way through Smith, who energized the team all night with athletic plays. He was key during a fast start, and he lifted the Hawks when they sagged during the second and third quarters.
Smith had 10 points as the Hawks led 28-20 after the first quarter. When the Knicks cut the lead to 30-26 early in the second quarter Drew quickly sent back in Smith, whose scored on back-to-back dunks to spark a 14-3 run.
When the Knicks trimmed a 52-40 halftime deficit to 55-44, Smith responded with a three-point play on a fast-break alley oop and another dunk. That pushed the lead back to 57-44, but the Hawks would need Green’s late burst to hold off New York.
The game overshadowed the frosty relationship between Woodson and Drew, who was Woodson’s assistant with the Hawks. The long-time friends and former NBA teammates haven’t spoken since Woodson wasn’t retained following the 2009-10 season.
“We haven’t talked,” Woodson said before the game. “I just want to talk about basketball. Let’s keep it that way.”
