Hawks totally fall apart in loss to Golden State

By Bud L. Ellis

The Atlanta Hawks have looked like a legitimate NBA championship contender at times this season.

But Sunday night in Oakland, the Hawks looked like a team that will be long gone before late May gets here.

Blowing a 17-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks fell totally apart in the final 12 minutes, losing to Golden State 108-104 in the third game of a four-game road swing.

The Hawks, who finish the road trip Monday night at Utah, carried a 90-73 advantage into the fourth quarter. But Golden State ripped the Hawks apart in the final 12 minutes, outscoring Atlanta 35-14 over the course of the final quarter.

Up 52-51 at halftime, the Hawks owned the third quarter, outscoring the Warriors 38-22. Joe Johnson led Atlanta with 31 points. Al Horford scored 26 points with 11 rebounds, and Josh Smith added 14 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists. Jamal Crawford scored 17 off the bench.

The Hawks, who now trail Orlando by 2 ½ games in the Southeast Division, return home to Philips Arena to play Minnesota on Wednesday.

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Monday, February 22, 2010 at 9:04 pm by bud

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Minnesota Timberwolves, National Basketball Association, Orlando Magic, Philips Arena, Utah Jazz