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The Atlanta Hawks started the game with good energy and jumped out to a 17-12 lead, but from that point on the Warriors dominated en route to a 115-93 victory. The first quarter ended with both teams tied at 26. The Warriors pulled away in the second quarter scoring 36 points on 56% shooting from the field including 5-of-6 (83.3%) from three-point range. The Hawks went in the opposite direction, shooting just 36% from the field and were 0-of-5 from behind the arc. Atlanta’s offense was pressing, going away from Al Horford, shooting too many jumpers, and too many tough shots inside against double-teams. At the half the Warriors held a 62-49 lead and had five players in double figures.
The second half was more of the same as the Hawks struggled shooting the ball and the Warriors continued to dominate. In the third quarter, the Hawks starters played a combined 34 minutes, and went a combined 1-for-10 with Al Horford the only one that made a shot (or did much of anything). Josh Smith put forth his worst performance of the season shooting a miserable 1-for-12 (8.3%) from the field, and finished the night with three points and seven rebounds. Smith was constantly doubled in the post, and rather than passing out, he forced up a number of contested leaning shots.
Aside from Al Horford (17 points and nine rebounds), and Ivan Johnson (15 points and nine rebounds) the Hawks looked flat. Ivan and Al kept the Hawks close in the first half scoring 23 of the team’s 49 points. Lou Williams had 16 points (10 in the third quarter) as he did his best to lift the Hawks in the second half. Atlanta shot a pitiful 36.9% from the field and a season-worst 5-of-26 (19.2%) from three.
The Warriors finished the game shooting 49.5% from the field and 10-of-24 (41.7%) from three. They also improved to 15-1 when they out-rebound their opponents as they beat the Hawks 54-45 on the glass. They’re ball movement was incredible as they assisted on 32 of their 49 made baskets thanks to some slow rotations by the Hawks.
The Warriors finish their long road trip 6-1 and improve to 16-8 on the season and are firmly in the fifth spot in the Western Conference, just percentage points behind the Memphis Grizzlies. The Hawks fall to 14-7 and third in the Eastern Conference a half game behind the Miami Heat. Atlanta will be back in action against the Washington Wizards on Monday as they will hope that the team with the worst record in the NBA (who they have beaten twice) will get them back on track.
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