Hawks Soar Into Popularity

Even though they don’t have a permanent home, the unbeaten Atlanta Hawks are winning a place in the hearts of Atlanta sports fans.

“No doubt, it’s starting to be a big deal to be a Hawk,” forward Tyrone Corbin said. “Eleven-and-0 inspires lots of talk. Wherever I go, I hear Hawk talk.”

“People are saying, ‘What’s going on with the Hawks?”’ Daniel Levy of nearby Marietta said. “It’s incredible.”

Levy, a Hawks fan for 10 years, is among those amazed by the team’s 11-0 start, which has raised hopes that the Hawks will be able to soar farther than the second round of the NBA playoffs - a hurdle they’ve never cleared while in Atlanta.

Hawks mania is a new feeling for Atlanta sports fans somewhat spoiled by baseball’s Braves, who are widely considered a disappointment if they fall short of the World Series, as they did this year.

“It’s exciting. It’s almost like when the Braves first became contenders,” said Mark Christopher, who came with three friends from Dacula, Ga., for Tuesday night’s game. They watched the Hawks rally in the fourth quarter, then shut out the Washington Wizards in overtime for a 98-89 victory.

That game was in the Georgia Dome, one of two temporary homes for the Hawks while their new arena is being built.

It attracted 12,809 fans, including Levy and a friend from Uruguay, Raul Ferreira, who proclaimed in Spanish that the Hawks are “a very good team.”

Ferreira picked out guard Mookie Blaylock as his favorite player. Blaylock didn’t disappoint. He played all 53 minutes while scoring 24 points, grabbing six rebounds and making three steals.

Lenny Wilkens, the winningest coach in NBA history, has molded a team that is without a superstar.

After the Hawks were overmatched in last season’s playoffs by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, many fans were surprised when Atlanta made few roster changes - other than adding first-round draft pick Ed Gray, who starred with 14 points Tuesday night.

“We have the same group as last year,” center Dikembe Motumbo said, “but the chemistry is better. It hurt us to lose to the Bulls. We had an attitude check. We definitely know each other better.”

The continuity appears to be playing a key role in the streak, in which the Hawks have won only one game by double figures - 11 points - and have repeatedly staged late comebacks marked by cool confidence.

“They’ve got a long way to go, but it’s nice to come to a game with a winning thought in mind,” said Jim Kinsell, a season ticket-holder since 1977 who has seen his share of poor teams.

“I like basketball, so I took the lean with the good. If they make it to the championship this year, that’s what I’ve been waiting on.”

Lakers make it 10

Eddie Jones scored 31 points, Shaquille O’Neal had 26 and Kobe Bryant 20 as the undefeated Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-93 Wednesday night in Inglewood, Calif., for their 10th straight victory.

The Wolves brought their own franchise record into the Forum - four straight road wins - and had the Lakers down by five in the first quarter.

But Bryant and O’Neal restored order in the second quarter, keying a 21-6 run that gave the Lakers a 46-33 advantage. O’Neal had seven points and Bryant five in the run.

Blazers streak ends

Glen Rice teamed with David Wesley to fuel a third-quarter run that helped the Charlotte Hornets end Portland’s perfect road record with a 106-92 victory over the Trail Blazers in Charlotte.

Rice had 10 points and Wesley added four points and a pair of assists in the 17-5 surge that sent the Hornets to their sixth victory in seven games.

The Trail Blazers lost for the first time in five road games this season.

Celtics falter

At East Rutherford, N.J., Jayson Williams had 27 points and 13 rebounds and the New Jersey Nets made the Celtics lose their cool - and their four-game winning streak - with a 108-100 victory.

Coach Rick Pitino and Antoine Walker were ejected during the second half as the Celtics saw their record slip to 5-6.

Pitino was called for two technicals and was ejected with 1:27 left in the third.

Other action

The Miami Heat scored a franchise-record 45 points in the first period and went on to hand the Los Angeles Clippers their seventh consecutive loss, 122-113, in Miami.

Derek Strong came off the bench to score 20 points and the Orlando Magic erased a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-93 in overtime in Cleveland.

At San Antonio, David Robinson scored 21 points and Tim Duncan added 19 as San Antonio dealt Golden State its ninth straight loss to start the season, 108-87.