Hawks-Wizards Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSON
Posted Dec 17 2012 2:04PM

The Atlanta Hawks looked uncharacteristically porous in their last game.

Tuesday night provides a very good chance to bounce back as they travel to play the league-worst Washington Wizards, who have dropped 17 of 18 against the Hawks and already lost to them twice this season.

With a middle-of-the-road offense averaging 97.0 points, Atlanta (14-7) has relied on consistent defense en route to the Eastern Conference's third-best record. The Hawks lead the East in turnovers forced (17.0 per game), and their average of 94.1 points allowed ranks among the league's top 10.

They had season worsts in both categories Saturday, forcing 11 turnovers in a 115-93 home loss to Golden State. It was the sixth time in 21 games they have given up triple digits in points.

"That was probably one of our worst games all year from the standpoint of just our energy," said coach Larry Drew, who was called for his technical foul of the season.

The Hawks didn't have the firepower to compensate for such a poor defensive performance. While starting guards Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver combined for 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting, leading scorer Josh Smith (16.6 ppg) was held to a season-low three points and shot 1 for 12.

"If you've ever played basketball, you know you're going to have games when you don't make shots," Smith said. "Tonight was my game."

Smith should enjoy seeing Washington (3-18), though, as he's averaging 24.0 points and 13.5 rebounds in two matchups this season.

The only game Atlanta has lost in the past 18 meetings came when Smith was out with an injury April 9, 2011. That's also the only time in that span the Wizards reached 100 points in regulation.

They could struggle to score again Tuesday, as they own the league's worst offense at 89.8 points per game and tallied a season low in a 102-72 loss at Miami on Saturday.

It was a major setback for a team who seemed to be showing improvement. All three of Washington's wins have come in its last nine games, including one over the Heat, and each of its previous three losses had been by six points or less.

"I didn't know what we were running half the time. Credit to Miami. They came out and put pressure on us and we didn't handle their pressure," said coach Randy Wittman, whose team surrendered 30 points off 21 turnovers.

"I don't know what we were doing from an offensive standpoint."

John Wall could help, but the Wizards still have no specific timetable for the third-year point guard's return from a stress injury to his left knee cap. They said Friday that Wall could "ramp things up" after being re-examined, but he has still yet to practice with the team.

Wall has been out nearly a month longer than initially expected when his injury was announced Sept. 28.

Washington also remains uncertain when it will see forward Trevor Booker back on the court. Booker started seven of the team's first nine games but has since been out with a strained right knee.

Korver hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in overtime to give Atlanta a 101-100 win over Washington on Nov. 21, and he sat out the most recent meeting with back spasms but the Hawks won 104-95 on Dec. 7.

Williams scores 24, Hawks beat Wizards in OT

Posted Dec 19 2012 1:08AM

WASHINGTON (AP) The Washington Wizards have lost games every way possible this season. With 19 losses in 22 games, and four rotation players missing, the Wizards can still stay close in most games.

On Tuesday night, Washington took a team to overtime for the fourth time this season - and lost yet again.

Lou Williams scored a season-high 24 points and Josh Smith had 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 100-95 overtime win over the Wizards.

Most of Washington's losses this season have been close. Just four have been by more than 10 points.

Coach Randy Wittman, who on Monday wondered if an exorcist could come into the Verizon Center, admitted to questioning nearly everything in his world.

"I look up every morning to make sure the sky is up there - that it's not falling in on me," Wittman said.

He took to snapping at fans who chided him for removing Nene from the game during overtime. Nene has been hampered by a left foot injury, and he's playing limited minutes. Wittman has tried to limit him to 20 minutes. On Tuesday, he played 24, but that didn't satisfy the crowd.

"I had fans heckling me," Wittman said. "They're killing me. I had to turn around and say something to them today."

Kyle Korver had 16 points and Jeff Teague added 13 as Atlanta (15-7) won for the third time in three meetings with the Wizards (3-19) this season.

Jordan Crawford had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Wizards. It was Washington's first triple-double since Crawford had one on Apr. 1, 2011. Nene scored 18 points, Bradley Beal had 17 and Martell Webster 11.

"The way we play you would think giving ourselves a fighting chance in all these games, that record should be flipped," Webster said.

After Washington took a 93-92 lead on a jumper by Earl Barron with 3:05 to play in overtime, the Hawks scored six straight points to go up five with 1:29 to play.

"It's always little things we mess up on," Barron said.

Williams hit one of two free throws to tie the score, and DeShawn Stevenson hit a 3-pointer with 2:08 left to put Atlanta back ahead for good, 96-93. After he made the shot, the former Wizard turned toward the booing crowd, waving his hand in front of his face.

"A lot of people was talking smack, so I had to bring it out," Stevenson said.

"I'm not worried about Washington, beating them. I think we've got a good thing going, and that was a big win."

Originally coach Larry Drew wanted to rest Stevenson since the Hawks were beginning a stretch of four games in five nights, but Devin Harris suffered a foot injury in the first half and didn't return.

"I had no choice but to play DeShawn," Drew said. "And I'll you what, he really stepped it up big time for me. His presence was felt immediately."

Stevenson and Al Horford each made 1 of 2 free throws, and Crawford hit a jumper with 48 seconds left to pull Washington to 98-95.

Nene had a jumper blocked by Smith with 9 seconds to play, and Korver made two free throws to cap the scoring.

Barron scored his first basket of the game with 23 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 90. He missed his previous eight field goals.

With the score tied at 58-all, Beal went up for a dunk. Smith blocked it, and Beal fell hard to the floor, stayed motionless for a few moments and left the game with 5:29 to play in the third quarter. A minute later, Beal left the floor with trainer Eric Waters.

Without Beal, the Hawks ran off a quick seven straight points on a 3-pointer and a dunk by Teague and another dunk by Smith. Beal returned to the bench a few minutes later. After three quarters, Atlanta led 72-69.

The Hawks led through nearly the entire first half with a 52-46 advantage at halftime. Beal was 6 for 7 from the field and had 12 points in the opening half.

Williams had 16 of his 24 points in the second half.

"We didn't play with a lot of energy, so I just wanted to be aggressive any time I had the ball," Williams said.

NOTES: Stevenson made a dunk late in the third quarter. His previous 25 baskets had been 3-pointers. His last 2-pointer came nine games ago on Nov. 21 against the Wizards. ... Atlanta G Anthony Morrow missed his second straight game with a sore back. ... Washington F Trevor Ariza, who has missed the last seven games with a sore left calf is improving, Wittman said, and he hopes to have him back next week. ... The Hawks host Oklahoma City on Wednesday. The Thunder are 20-4 and have won 11 straight games.

Notebook: Hawks 100, Wizards 95 (OT)

Rich Dubroff, at NBA.com
Posted Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:58 PM - Updated Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:58 PM

THE FACTS: Lou Williams had a season-high 24 points, Josh Smith had 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 100-95 overtime win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

Jordan Crawford had a triple-double with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Nene had 18 points and Bradley Beal had 17 for Washington, which has lost 19 of 22.

The Hawks outscored the Wizards 10-5 in overtime. DeShawn Stevenson, who played in Washington for five seasons, hit a 3-pointer with 2:08 remaining to put Atlanta ahead.

QUOTABLE: "I look up every morning to make sure the sky is up there, that it's not falling in on me."
-- Wizards coach Randy Wittman on his team's run of bad luck.

THE STAT: Crawford's triple-double, the second of his career, came one game after he shot 2-for-12 against Miami in Washington's 30-point loss last Saturday

TURNING POINT: Stevenson's 3-pointer, which caused him to preen to the crowd. "A lot of people was talking smack," Stevenson said. "So I had to bring it out."

QUOTABLE II: "Tonight was one of those games where you didn't play well. We didn't play with a lot of energy, so I just wanted to be aggressive any time I had the ball."
-- Williams on the Hawks' win despite playing poorly.

HOT: Atlanta's Kyle Korver had 16 points on 5-for-6 from the field and 3-for-4 from 3-point range.

NOT: Beal was 6-for-7 from the field in the first half and 2-for-15 after that.

GOOD MOVE: Hawks coach Larry Drew put in Stevenson, who he was originally going to rest, after Devin Harris suffered a foot injury in the first half. Stevenson hit all three of his field goals, the first two-pointers he'd made in nine games. His previous 25 baskets came on 3-pointers. "I had no choice but to play DeShawn," Drew said. "And I'll you what, he really stepped it up big time for me."

BAD MOVE: Wittman continuing to start Emeka Okafor at center despite his lack of rebounding. He had just two rebounds in 25 minutes. Earl Barron, who rarely plays, had 14 in 26 minutes.

NOTABLE: Washington is 0-4 in overtime and they've lost four by more than 10 points. Two of the overtime losses were to Atlanta.

IN THE ARENA: Wittman was heckled by fans behind the Wizards bench. They were frustrated that Wittman removed Nene from the game during overtime after he exceeded the 20-minute limit placed upon him in his recovery from a left foot injury. "They're killing me. I had to turn around and say something today," Wittman said.

NEXT: For the Hawks: Wednesday vs. Thunder, Friday @ Sixers, Saturday vs. Bulls. For the Wizards: Wednesday @ Magic, Friday @ Pistons, Saturday vs. Pistons.

• Hawks: Morrow
• Wizards: Booker, Wall

• Hawks: Teague
• Wizards: Crawford

• Lead Changes: 20
• Times Tied: 12

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #30 John Goble, #78 Scott Bolnick
• Attendance: 15123
• Duration: 2:33