NBA Recap (Dallas-Atlanta)
Posted: Wed January 14, 1998 at 11:51 p.m. EST
ATLANTA 108, DALLAS 82
Steve
Smith stayed red-hot by scoring 21 of his 29 points on three-pointers,
leading the Atlanta
Hawks to their fifth consecutive victory, a 108-82 rout of the woeful
Dallas Mavericks.
One night after scoring a season-high 35 points and sinking a
game-winning jumper at New York, Smith carried the Hawks again, shooting
10-for-15 from the field, including 7-of-9 from behind the arc.
"I feel good. Things are going real well," Smith said. "I think it's
a situation where we're playing together and we really gutted this one out.
We were kind of tired from playing in New York last night."
Smith is averaging just under 25 points in his last six games as he
continues to pick up the slack for injured backcourt mate Mookie
Blaylock. In the third quarter, he sank a 40-footer, and his seven
three-pointers was a team season high.
"Smith was the number one guy we were trying to control tonight, and
he made 10 out of 15 shots," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said. "He's a
great player and tough to guard because of his size. He's under control
all the time and one of the great shooters in the game."
Dikembe
Mutombo scored 21 points and tied his season high with 19 rebounds and
Eldridge
Recasner added 15 points for the Hawks, who have won four straight
games against the Mavericks, taking this season's two meetings by an
average of 29.5 points. Atlanta defeated Dallas 112-79 on the road on
December 2nd.
"Last night's game against New York was a real tough physical game
that had a lot of emotion as well," Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens said.
"Tonight the guys kept their focus. We knew we just wanted to come out and
play and get the job done. Smitty continues to play tremendous basketball.
He's been providing us with huge leadership. Dikembe also came back from
last night, when he got seven stiches in the mouth, and was ready to go."
Holding a 10-point lead in the third quarter, the Hawks put together a
13-0 run to take control as Mutombo and Recasner each contributed four
points. Mutombo's dunk at the 7:27 mark got it started, and two free throws
by Chris
Crawford capped it at 2:55, moving Atlanta to a 71-48 lead.
Michael
Finley scored 25 points and Dennis Scott 12
for the Mavericks, who lost their 15th consecutive road game and fourth
straight overall. After opening the season with victories at Vancouver and
Seattle, Dallas has not won away from home since.
"The Hawks are really something. With Mookie out of the game and the
fact that they were able to play like that shows that they really have some
depth," Nelson said. "All I can say is that you have days like this."
Atlanta jumped out to a 12-2 lead just three minutes into the first
quarter. Christian
Laettner opened it with a layup and concluded it with a three-point
play off a drive, giving the Hawks a 10-point lead at the 8:51 mark. They
never trailed thereafter.
Dallas pulled within 49-42 at halftime, using a 9-2 burst to close the
half as Scott contributed five points. Atlanta improved its record to 17-1
when owning the lead at the half.
"Everyone played together tonight," Smith said. "They look at me for
offense, but definitely a little bit more with Mookie out. It's been a
good ride for me and I'm just glad we're back on a winning streak."
The Hawks connected on 49 percent (38-for-77) from the field while
Dallas shot just 36 percent (32-for-89). Atlanta also controlled the
boards, 55-36.
Atlanta's biggest lead of the second half was 108-81 in the closing
seconds after a dunk by Anthony
Miller.
"Shots weren't falling when we needed them to and they were making
shots when they had to," said Finley. "Steve Smith has been in the zone
for the past couple of games and it continued tonight. When a guy's that
hot, and makes a shot from halfcourt, it takes the wind out of your sails."
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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