Man, Let's Just End This Thing Tonight!

[khaos7]

Let's not mess around, come out flat, underestimate, play overconfident or timid, or botch up this game with Indiana! Let's put them away. The 3 point line is crucial. Yes, we'll still be up 2 games if we lose. Still, let's take destiny into our hands and put this team away. Jermaine O'neill has been banged up. Don't make him revisit his "glory days." Don't make Mike Dunlevey the second coming of Bird. Diener went off on the Bucks Sunday. Don't let it happen to you. Let's beat this team. I'll go as far as saying we SHOULD BEAT THIS TEAM. Don't let the headline on ESPN say "Indiana keeps playoff hopes alive" on tomorrow and give the pundits a reason to believe the Hawks will botch this up. GO FOR THE JUGGULAR!

[gutz]

I agree! I can't take this crap anymore. We need to come out and put this team away for good. Lets end it tonight Hawks!

[swolehawk2]

I smile just thinking about it....been waiting a long time for the Hawks to be in a game this big.

[khaos7]

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I smile just thinking about it....been waiting a long time for the Hawks to be in a game this big.

It's been a loooooooooooong time (I'm talking Mookie/Deke/Smitty) since we had a game close to this magnitude. Usually, around this time of year, the debate would be who to pick in the draft and should we tank. I've got a nervous, but good feeling about this game. I can't see us letting it go. I just feel we're a match up problem for them (as was the case in our first game with them). The second game? We played a lackadasical style of ball. We may have underestimated them. I just can't fathom us doing that this go around. The key here is WOODY. Can he actually rise to the occasion, motivate his team, and pull out a play or two that will give this team the edge? We can't play them the way we played Philly; the zone won't work on a volume 3pt shooting team like Indy.

[WraithSentinel]

While the thrill of playoff race is fun. I also prefer to avoid them if at all possible. Tonight is a chance to avoid one. I have no doubts JJ,Horford and Bibby could handle the pressure. I worry about the other 5 regulars if they can handle it.

[khaos7]

ATLANTA (AP) -- Atlanta has been an easy target for visiting teams as it built the NBA's longest current streak of non-playoff seasons.

No more. The Hawks suddenly are winning at home, and such visiting teams as the Indiana Pacers can't help but notice.

Joe Johnson scored 26 points to lead six scorers in double figures and the Hawks beat the Pacers 107-95 on Wednesday night for their first five-game winning streak in eight years.

The Hawks have won six of their last seven home games to move to 10-6 in Atlanta. Among Eastern Conference teams, only Boston and Detroit have more home victories.

"Teams are starting to realize it's not just a walk in the park to come to Atlanta and play in Philips Arena," said Josh Smith, who scored 11 of his 16 points in the final quarter as the Hawks turned back the Pacers' comeback attempts.

At 15-12, the Hawks are three games over .500 this late in the season for the first time since the 1998-99 season, the last time they made the playoffs. The Hawks' last five-game winning streak came early the following season, from Nov. 27-Dec. 8 in 1999.

The Hawks broke a 70-all tie with 12 straight points to take the lead for good. The streak covered the last 2 minutes of the third quarter and continued with back-to-back baskets by Josh Childress for an 82-70 lead in the final quarter.

Troy Murphy, who led Indiana with 19 points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help the Pacers cut it to 84-81, and another 3 by Danny Granger again made it a three-point game at 89-86.

Anthony Johnson answered with a 3 as the Hawks scored seven straight points for a 96-86 lead, forcing the Pacers to call a timeout with 3:48 left. Jamaal Tinsley scored on a one-on-three drive to the basket to cut the lead to 96-92.

Smith answered with a three-point play for Atlanta, and his 3-point shot with 37 seconds left put away the game.

Indiana had won four of five before but couldn't answer Atlanta's depth. Shelden Williams had 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench as the Hawks outrebounded the Pacers 48-37.

"They create tough matchups for us," said Indiana coach Jim O'Brien. "Josh Smith, playing one of the big spots, is tougher for our guys because he's so athletic. Joe Johnson is always a tough guy to guard for anybody."

Marvin Williams had 14 points, Anthony Johnson had 13, and Al Horford had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.

Jermaine O'Neal had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana. Tinsley had 16 points and 12 assists.

"We were just fighting too hard, overdoing," Tinsley said. "But, you know, you've got to give them credit."

The Hawks have slowly improved from 13-69 in 2004-05 to 30-52 last season. The Hawks were still a last-place team last season, but O'Brien says the league still saw the Hawks as a team on the move.

"I think everybody kind of saw it coming the last couple years," O'Brien said. "They're building some very good talent and I think they're playing a very cohesive type of basketball. They seem to be playing, at both ends, a very team-oriented basketball game."

Joe Johnson also led Atlanta with 11 assists, but he was more impressed with his team's defense.

"To win five games in a row you have to be doing something pretty good, and I think our defense is doing that for us," Johnson said.

Johnson said increased respect around the league isn't the main goal.

"We're not worried about that," he said. "Our main goal right now is to make the playoffs. Right now we're on a pretty good pace. We have to remember what got us there. That's defense."

Smith, limited by foul trouble, had only five points and three rebounds through three quarters before playing a lead role in the final 8 minutes. Smith, Anthony Johnson and Williams entered the game with 7:53 left, after Murphy's two 3-pointers cut the lead to 84-81.

Indiana, making its only visit of the season to Atlanta, closed the first quarter with a 9-0 run for a 25-23 lead. A 3-pointer by Kareem Rush helped the Pacers stretch the lead to 32-25.

Game notes

G Marquis Daniels remained at the Pacers' team hotel in Atlanta, suffering from a respiratory infection. ... After being out of uniform for 11 games with a strained left calf, Hawks G Tyronn Lue dressed but did not play. ... Ike Diogu had six points and two steals in only 6 minutes for Indiana in the first half. One of his steals set up his dunk.

[khaos7]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Danny Granger bounced back from one of the worst games of his career with one of his best.

The third-year forward tied a career high with 32 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 113-91 on Friday night to snap a five-game losing streak.

Granger, who tied his career-best points total on a dunk late in the fourth quarter, shot 10-for-15 from the field and had nine rebounds. The performance came two nights after he was held to six points on 2-for-9 shooting in a loss to Memphis on Wednesday.

"It was working tonight," Granger said. "I've been in a slump, or whatever you want to call it, but it's good to get back on track."

Granger also guarded Joe Johnson, the Hawks' leading scorer, for much of the night. Johnson had 26 points and 11 assists in a win over the Pacers on Dec. 26, but he scored just eight points this time.

Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal appreciated Granger's all-around effort.

"It's definitely good to see him scoring," O'Neal said. "We need him to really lock in and bring that every single night for us. I think Danny did a great job, not only offensively, but he was very impressive defensively with Joe Johnson."

Mike Dunleavy had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Kareem Rush scored 20 points for the Pacers.

It was Indiana's largest victory margin at home this season. The Pacers shot 13-for-25 from 3-point range and outrebounded the Hawks 49-35 to win before heading out on a five-game road trip.

Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said earlier in the day that no game is more important than any other, but his players disagreed.

"It becomes sort of mental to a point," Granger said. "We gave some games away to teams we probably should have beaten, but we got some good momentum going into the West Coast. Those losing streaks potentially ruin seasons, so I'm glad we snapped it."

Indiana scored a season-low 72 points in the loss to Memphis but shot 48 percent against Atlanta. The Hawks gave the Pacers credit but said they didn't offer much resistance.

"We didn't put the pressure on them defensively, and they were able to come down and get comfort jump shots," Josh Childress, who tied a career high with 26 points, said. "Once they blew open the lead, it was hard to catch up."

Josh Smith added 20 points for the Atlanta, which has lost three straight. The Hawks, one of the pleasant surprises of the NBA season, hope they're not falling back into their old ways.

"We had a terrible game tonight," Atlanta point guard Anthony Johnson said. "We didn't do anything well, in any phase of the game. In this league, there are nights like this that are always out there, always lurking. But to have this happen against a team that's lost five games in a row like the Pacers have ... definitely a setback for us."

Indiana led 39-37 in the second quarter before closing with a 15-6 run to take a 54-43 lead at halftime. Dunleavy had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the first half.

The Pacers started the second half on a 16-5 run that included eight points by Granger to take a 70-48 lead. Indiana extended that advantage to 87-61 by the end of the period.

Indiana's largest lead was 31 points in the fourth quarter.

Pacers point guard Jamaal Tinsley sat out his fourth straight game with a sore left thigh. It was the team's first win without him.

The Pacers often have given up big leads this season, but they put the pressure on in the third quarter and outscored the Hawks 33-18 in the period.

"We were so flat from the beginning," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "Offensively, we were struggling to score a little bit. We compounded it by not defending and rebounding the ball, and that's a bad combination. They were desperate for a win to get off that slide. They did what they had to do and we didn't respond."

Game notes

Indiana center David Harrison played after missing seven games with a sore back. He entered with 2:22 left in the first quarter and finished with two points in seven minutes. ... Indianapolis Colts players Gary Brackett, Bob Sanders, Antoine Bethea, Ben Utecht and Marlin Jackson attended the game. They got a standing ovation when their presence was announced. ... Johnson, a former Pacer, started for the Hawks and finished with four points and one assist in 22 minutes. ... Indiana forward Shawne Williams didn't play because of coaching decisions in two of the past three games. He went scoreless and fouled out in nine minutes against the Hawks.

[JackB1]

Not to be a downer, but you realize we can't clinch tonite, right?

[khaos7]

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Not to be a downer, but you realize we can't clinch tonite, right?

yes, but we could eliminate Indy because we hold the tie breaker. So if they won every game after losing to us, we loss our last 4, and ended up with equal records, we'd win the tie-breaker and go to the playoffs.

Also, it means our magic number would be 1. NJ would have to win out and we'd have to lose every game. Neither seems likely.

So, by winning, we make it virtually impossible NOT to make the playoffs.

[JackB1]

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Not to be a downer, but you realize we can't clinch tonite, right?

yes, but we could eliminate Indy because we hold the tie breaker. So if they won every game after losing to us, we loss our last 4, and ended up with equal records, we'd win the tie-breaker and go to the playoffs.

Also, it means our magic number would be 1. NJ would have to win out and we'd have to lose every game. Neither seems likely.

So, by winning, we make it virtually impossible NOT to make the playoffs.

I agree. Winning tonite and our odds of making the playoffs would jump to 99.99%.

NJ would have to win all 4 of their games and they stll have Cleveland, Toronto and Boston.

AND we would lave to lose all 4 games and we have NY and Miami left.

IT LOOKS REAL GOOD PEOPLE!!!!!!!

[khaos7]

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Not to be a downer, but you realize we can't clinch tonite, right?

yes, but we could eliminate Indy because we hold the tie breaker. So if they won every game after losing to us, we loss our last 4, and ended up with equal records, we'd win the tie-breaker and go to the playoffs.

Also, it means our magic number would be 1. NJ would have to win out and we'd have to lose every game. Neither seems likely.

So, by winning, we make it virtually impossible NOT to make the playoffs.

I agree. Winning tonite and our odds of making the playoffs would jump to 99.99%.

NJ would have to win all 4 of their games and they stll have Cleveland, Toronto and Boston.

AND we would lave to lose all 4 games and we have NY and Miami left.

IT LOOKS REAL GOOD PEOPLE!!!!!!!

So Joe, Smoove, Chillz, Bibby, Marvin, Horf, Zaza, Mario, Solomon, Salim, Acie IV, Jeremy, lets handle business tonight!

[Plainview1981]

don't forget that basically all of NJ's games left are on the road.