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Wednesday, Dec. 8 7:30pm ET
Rider's 38 points too much for Clips | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
ATLANTA (AP) -- With Jim Jackson sidelined and Atlanta down to 10 active players, Isaiah Rider carried the Hawks on Wednesday night. Rider scored a season-high 38 points as Atlanta extended its winning streak to five games with a 99-81 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. "Some of the guys came to me and said, 'We need a big night out of you tonight,"' said Rider, who also had nine rebounds and seven assists. "And I started being more aggressive and more assertive." Dikembe Mutombo added 16 points and 14 rebounds, all on the defensive end, for Atlanta. The Hawks, who won for the eighth time in their last 10 games, reached the .500 mark for the first time this season. Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens has watched Rider blossom since the seventh-year guard was suspended for one game for missing a Nov. 15 practice. In going 18-of-29 from the field, Rider topped the 30-point mark for the third straight game and increased his team-high scoring average to 22.6. "J.R. was incredible tonight," Wilkens said. "He's going to do more. He was patient tonight. He took over when he had to. He tried to get other guys involved." The Clippers, who lost their seventh straight overall and 10th in a row to Atlanta, got 17 points and a career-high 20 rebounds from Michael Olowokandi. Maurice Taylor scored 22 points, and Lamar Odom added 16 for Los Angeles. The Hawks dominated the defensive boards, 38-14. "We have to focus on defense and getting the job done on the defensive boards," Odom said. Rider's effort was timely because Jackson (knee problems) and Roshown McLeod (strained groin) were ailing. Jackson is the Hawks' second-leading scorer with a 15.6 average. "If you move to the open area, you're going to get the jump shot every time," Rider said. "I think the guys are working well with me." The Clippers, who never led after Odom's basket made it 58-57 midway through the third quarter, haven't won since Nov. 23. Trailing by one in the third quarter, the Hawks went on a 12-3 run to go up 69-61 on a dunk by Chris Crawford. Game notesRider's 18 field goals were a career-high. He scored a career-high 42 points for Minnesota against Golden State in 1995. ... Jackson, who is receiving "shock therapy" with a knee specialist in Toronto, is expected to rejoin the Hawks on Saturday at Cleveland. It is unclear whether he will play. ... McLeod, injured in practice Monday, is expected to miss a week. ... The Clippers fell to 1-13 when trailing after three quarters. ... Los Angeles was outscored 46-28 in the paint. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard LA Clippers Clubhouse Atlanta Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 115 Denver 90
Atlanta 99
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