|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
ATLANTA (AP) -- Paul Pierce wishes his Boston Celtics could play
with the same enthusiasm as the Atlanta Hawks.
"Teams look at us and say they're going to start a winning
streak," Pierce said, "That's what it seems like."
|  | | Atlanta's Roshown McLeod runs into a wall of green that is Celtics forward Paul Pierce. McLeod had 21 points in the Hawks' win. |
Jason Terry scored 32 points and Dikembe Mutombo grabbed 19
rebounds as the Hawks beat Boston 92-81 Tuesday night and ended a
four-game losing streak against the Celtics.
Terry scored nine of his 14 second-half points in the third
quarter, and Roshown McLeod had 15 of his 21 points in the first
half for the Hawks, who ended a two-game losing streak and won for
the fifth time in seven games.
"They worked awfully hard," Hawks coach Lon Kruger said. "A
lot of different guys stepping up and making plays in and around
Jason. Roshown did a terrific job. Matt (Maloney) hit big shots,
and Dikembe just keeps getting better and better. What he's doing
defensively on the boards is unbelievable."
Lorenzen Wright added 18 points for Atlanta.
Pierce scored 30 points for Boston, which has lost four of its
last five games. The Hawks, who opened the season 0-7, are now just
one game worse than the 12-19 Celtics in the Eastern Conference
standings.
"It's going to be the same story," Pierce said. "We continue
to let teams shoot over 50 percent each and every game. It's going
to continue to be the same story until we get our act together.
Especially when we're not rebounding the ball."
Bryant Stith's 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:11 to go in
the third quarter gave Boston a 66-63 lead, its last of the game.
Atlanta went on a 12-0 run, capped by Wright's dunk on an assist
from Maloney, as the Hawks assumed a 75-66 lead.
The Celtics shot just 37.7 percent, the worst effort coming from
point guard Kenny Anderson, who went 1-for-7 from the field with
zero assists. Antoine Walker finished 1-for-8 from 3-point range,
4-for-17 overall.
"It's disappointing because the effort's good and that's the
shame of it all," Boston coach Rick Pitino said. "If we could
just do smart things out there and stay within ourselves, we would
execute better."
Pierce's jumper with 6:53 remaining pulled Boston within four
points, 79-75, but the Celtics never got closer.
"It was another game where we came out and played aggressively
on defense," Terry said. "It's tough for a team to score when
Dikembe is rebounding the way he is now."
Game notes
Hawks guard Brevin Knight, acquired in the trade that sent
Jim Jackson, Anthony Johnson and Larry Robinson to Cleveland
Tuesday, was introduced at halftime. ... The Celtics activated
Walter McCarty before the game and placed center Tony Battie on the
injured list. ... With Alan Henderson and Chris Crawford on the
injured list, Atlanta had just nine players available. ...
Mutombo's streak of 20 consecutive made free throws ended with 4:11
to go in the second quarter. The NBA's leading rebounder, Mutombo
had pulled down 20 or more rebounds in three straight games. ...
Terry handed out a game-high six assists.
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
Hawks trade Jackson to Cleveland for Knight
RECAPS
Washington 115
Minnesota 108
Atlanta 92
Boston 81
Houston 100
Cleveland 95
New Jersey 120
Orlando 110
Milwaukee 104
Chicago 70
San Antonio 80
Miami 72
Indiana 91
Seattle 83
LA Clippers 110
Toronto 97
Sacramento 121
Phoenix 117
AUDIO/VIDEO
 A driving Paul Pierce is denied by Atlanta's Dikembe Mutombo.
avi: 542 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Antoine Walker Official Site
|
