Hawks-Wizards Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Jan 12 2013 12:02AM

After getting a much-needed boost by rallying to end a lengthy skid, the Atlanta Hawks would appear to have a chance to keep their momentum going when they face the NBA-worst Washington Wizards.

The Wizards, though, have been competitive in all three games with the Hawks this season and are expected to have star point guard John Wall available for the first time in 2012-13 during Saturday night's matchup.

Atlanta (21-14) ended a season-high four-game losing streak by overcoming a 15-point deficit in the second half and shooting 55.6 percent in a 103-95 home win over Utah on Friday. The Hawks averaged 87.8 points during their slide.

"It's huge for us," said Devin Harris, who had a season-high 24 points in his first start since returning from a sore left foot. "It builds character. It brings a team together."

Atlanta would appear to have a good opportunity at its first win streak since a four-game run Dec. 22-29 as it's won 18 of 19 over the Wizards and six in a row. The Hawks have also won nine of 10 in Washington and prevailed in each of the past two visits.

Atlanta, though, had to go to overtime to win in its only visit to the Verizon Center this season, 100-95 on Dec. 18. The Hawks also needed an extra period and had to sweat through a video review of Martell Webster's buzzer beater for a 101-100 home victory over the Wizards (5-28) on Nov. 21.

The Hawks nearly blew an 18-point lead in a 104-95 win against Washington on Dec. 7 in Atlanta. Josh Smith had 23 points and a season-high 15 rebounds in that win, and has averaged a team-best 21.7 points and 13.3 boards in this season's series.

Atlanta, though, has also had the benefit of not having to face Wall, who has been recovering from a stress injury to his left kneecap. The former No. 1 overall draft pick was cleared to play Friday after his third straight day of practice with no complications.

That news of Wall's expected return only added to the recent positivity for the Wizards, who are coming off a 101-99 win over Northwest Division-leading Oklahoma City on Monday. Bradley Beal hit the go-ahead jumper with 0.3 seconds left and scored 22 points, tying Webster for the team lead.

The Wizards had lost 13 of 14 and five in a row before that victory.

"It's a new beginning," Wall said. "I think it's exciting that my teammates are excited to have me back on the court."

Wizards coach Randy Wittman said that Wall's minutes will initially be determined by the team's trainers.

"He's going to be going 100 miles per hour, knowing John. He's going to have to temper that but you also want him to play the way he plays. I don't want to pull back too much on that," Wittman said. "His conditioning is something I'm going to have to keep an eye on."

Wall was held to eight points on 1-of-10 shooting in his most recent meeting with Atlanta, a 95-92 home loss March 24, after averaging 18.2 in his first six matchups.

'I'm back': Wall has 14; Wizards top Hawks 93-83

By JOSEPH WHITE
Posted Jan 12 2013 11:51PM

WASHINGTON (AP) In the fourth quarter, when he had shook off the nerves and rust and finally found his legs, John Wall starting yelling: "I'm back."

"That's what I was saying the whole time," Wall said. "To anybody. I was just happy to be playing basketball. To whoever was in my way, that's what I was saying."

Wall made his season debut Saturday night, giving his teammates a lift with 14 points and four assists in 21 minutes, highlighted by a left-handed behind-the-back assist when the Washington Wizards were putting the game away in the final minutes.

Saturday night's 93-83 victory over the Atlanta Hawks gave the worst-in-NBA Wizards their first winning streak of the season, and a psychological high point now that their franchise player is healthy again.

"Still the same year," Wizards guard A.J. Price said. "But definitely new life."

Trying not to get carried away in his return from a knee injury, Wall went 5 for 11 from the field and 4 for 5 from the free-throw line, saluting the crowd as they gave him a standing ovation when he entered with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter, and again when he fed rookie Bradley Beal for a fast-break dunk, and one more time at the final whistle.

"I was just nervous to see how I would feel. ... My homeboys-slash-brothers were joking, happy the whole day," Wall said. "I'm just trying to stay calm and take a nap."

Although his playing time will be limited while he gets himself in full playing shape, Wall appeared to have his old speed and explosiveness back. It was his first time teaming with No. 3 overall draft pick Beal, and they gave the fans a taste of the speedy backcourt they had waited so long to see.

"The game is different now," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said.

Beal and Price finished with 16 points apiece, and Martell Webster added 15 for the Wizards, who are 6-28 but have strung together two wins in a row following their upset of Oklahoma City on Monday.

Jeff Teague scored 19 points, Al Horford had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Josh Smith added 11 points for the Hawks, who trailed the entire second half and have lost five of six. Atlanta had won 18 of its previous 19 against Washington, including six in a row.

The Hawks were let down by their defense and took too many 3-point shots (24), but Wall was a difference as well.

"He's gonna give them a different dynamic," Hawks guard Lou Williams said. "Tonight, I think he played well enough to get them over the hump."

The lowlight for the Hawks came when Ivan Johnson missed a wide-open layup by throwing the ball completely over the basket and catching it on the other side, thus committing a traveling violation. The basket would have cut the Wizards' lead to four with about 9 minutes to play.

"We had opportunities, and just some plays went wrong," Teague said. "We had some turnovers."

Wall was expected to miss about two months when he was diagnosed with a stress injury to his left kneecap in late September. He began increasing his basketball activity last month, but it wasn't until Wednesday that he had his first full-throttle practice with the team.

After three consecutive days of pain-free workouts, Wall was given medical clearance Friday to suit up. He hit the floor a couple of times Saturday trying to take a charge, but bounced up with no apparent issues with his knee.

Even with Wall's return, the Wizards are far from healthy. Jordan Crawford (sore left ankle) and Cartier Martin (hyperextended left knee) remain sidelined, and four other players are having their playing time monitored. Trevor Booker returned Saturday after missing 24 games with a strained right knee. Price and Trevor Ariza returned from long injury layoffs in Monday's win over the Thunder, and Nene is nursing tendinitis in his right knee.

And, by the way, Wittman told his players that, in his opinion, they don't really have a winning streak yet.

"They say a winning streak is three, so we've got to get this third one," he said.

NOTES: The Hawks were called for three technicals: Smith and Williams in the first quarter, and Teague as part of a double-technical with Kevin Seraphin in the fourth. ... Wizards F Jan Vesely played four minutes and committed five fouls. ... It must be NFL playoff time: Random cheers were heard throughout the game whenever the Baltimore Ravens made a big play in their overtime win over the Denver Broncos.

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Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Notebook: Wizards 93, Hawks 83

Benjamin Standig, for NBA.com
Posted Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:58 PM - Updated Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:01 AM

THE FACTS: John Wall scored 14 points in his season debut and the Wizards won back-to-back games for the first time this season with a 93-83 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

Bradley Beal and A.J. Price each scored 16 points for the Wizards (6-28), who beat the Hawks for the first time in four games this season. Emeka Okafor had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Martell Webster scored 15. Washington defeated Oklahoma City 101-99 on Monday.

Wall, who missed the opening 33 games with a left knee stress injury, entered to a standing ovation with 4:56 left in the first quarter and played 21 minutes including the final six. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft made 5 of 11 shots, had four assists and helped Washington fend off Atlanta while constantly repeating, "I'm back," in the game's final minutes.

Jeff Teague scored 19 points and Al Horford had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks (21-15), who have lost four of five games.

QUOTABLE: "It was a big day for me especially since I was just nervous just thinking how would I feel, how would I go throughout the game after just going through practice. My home boys-slash-brothers at home were joking, happy the whole day. I'm just trying to stay calm and take a nap."
-- Wall on his emotions following his first game since April 26, 2012

THE STAT: Steady ball movement consistently set up Washington with looks inside and the Wizards finished with a 46-22 points in the paint advantage.

TURNING POINT: Probably the first moment Wall stepped on the court, but the electric playmaker's return in the fourth quarter ended any potential for another late-game collapse. Wall returned after Atlanta pulled to within 83-77 and helped stretch the lead to 13 by scoring six of Washington's next eight points. For his final act, Wall fed Trevor Ariza for a dunk with a left-handed behind-the-back pass that brought the crowd back to its feet. Wall saluted the fans in response.

QUOTABLE II: "It gave me a big lift so I know it had to give our guys. These guys have got to be smiling on some of the shots they are going to get in transition with John pushing the ball up. A number of them tonight.

-- Wizards coach Randy Wittman

HOT: Price, who returned to the lineup Monday after missing 15 games with a fractured hand, started and set a season-high with 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting.

NOT: The Hawks collectively shot 38.5 percent from the field including 7-for-24 from beyond the 3-point arc. Josh Smith finished 4-for-13 and missed three of four 3-pointers.

QUOTABLE III: "We launch 24 3s, we won't win another road game. We have to understand that when you play on the road, you have to be selective with your shots and you've got to be able to executive your offense."

-- Atlanta coach Larry Drew

GOOD MOVE: Wittman taking Jan Vesely out of the game. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft almost did that himself by picking up five fouls in five scoreless minutes.

NOTABLE: The Wizards played without Jordan Crawford (sore left ankle) and Cartier Martin (hyper-extended left knee) for the second straight game.

UP NEXT: For the Hawks, Monday @ Chicago, Wednesday vs. Brooklyn, Friday @ Brooklyn. For the Wizards, Monday vs. Atlanta, Wednesday @ Sacramento, Friday @ Denver.

• Hawks: Morrow
• Wizards: Martin

• Hawks: Smith, Teague, Williams
• Wizards: Seraphin

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #30 John Goble, #49 Tom Washington, #79 Kevin Scott
• Attendance: 15331
• Duration: 2:12