Peachtree Hoops: Atlanta Hawks News and Notes From MLK Day Victory Over Sacramento

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John Bazemore - AP

Shooter's Touch (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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AJC writer Ken Sugiura pretty much summarizes the night with this statement:

An impressive comeback for the home team, though one necessitated by the

Hawks

’ lack of interest in playing defense in the first half and to some extent in the third quarter

Bret at Hoopinion looks at the second half contributions of Al Horford and Josh Smith:

Al Horford made the most of his rare (despite playing the entire second half) second-half touches, adding 8 points on 4 shots and 3 assists to his first-half totals, and

Josh Smith

, after using five of six field goal attempts on jump shots in the first three quarters, took six of seven* shots at the rim in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 essential points in the final 12 minutes.

Coach Drew post game:

"This could have been a really bad loss going into Miami," coach 

Larry  Drew

 said. "That's just not a good feeling."

Akis Yerocostas of SB Nation Bay Area on DeMarcus Cousins performance in the game:

Other than that final play, Cousins had probably his best game of this road trip, scoring 20 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks as well. He had some trouble late though dealing with 

Al Horford

, who had a new career high 7 blocks, to go with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

Sactown Royalty's Tom Ziller on Damien Wilkins defensive assignment on Tryeke Evans late:

Seconds before J.J.'s game-clinching free throws, Evans had schooled

 

Damien Wilkins

 

to put in an easy layup to tie the game at 98-98. Hawks coach

 

Larry Drew

 

had inserted Wilkins, a 31-year-old veteran roleplayer who averages a few minutes a week, specifically to guard 'Reke on the important possession, thus conceding any votes he would have gotten for Coach of the Year.

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