NBA: Hawks winning like its 1999
Atlanta has been an easy target for visiting teams as it built the NBA’s longest current streak of non-playoff seasons. No more.
The Hawks suddenly are winning at home, and such visiting teams as the Indiana Pacers can’t help but notice.
Joe Johnson scored the first two baskets in a 12-0 run and the Hawks beat the Pacers 107-95 on Wednesday night for their first five-game winning streak in eight years.
The Hawks are three games better than .500 this late in the season for the first time since the 1998-99 season, the last time they made the playoffs.
The Hawks’ last five-game winning streak came early the following season, from Nov. 27-Dec. 8 in 1999.
Wizards 108, Bobcats 104: At Charlotte, N.C., Caron Butler returned from two sore ankles to score 25 points and Washington rode big games from four players to beat the Bobcats and snap a three-game losing streak.
Antawn Jamison added 26 points and 14 rebounds, Roger Mason scored a career-high 24 points and Brendan Haywood had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Wizards, who gave coach Eddie Jordan his 200th career win.
Celtics 89, Kings 69: At Sacramento, Calif., Paul Pierce scored 14 of his 16 points during a second-quarter run that carried Boston to its first win in Sacramento in more than 11 years.
Ray Allen led the way with 17 points and Garnett added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who had lost 11 straight at Arco Arena since Feb. 16, 1996.
76ers 96, Heat 85: At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored a season-high 28 points and the 76ers held off Miami.
Andre Miller had 12 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds for the Sixers, who defeated the Heat for the 13th time in the last 15 games in Philadelphia.
Pistons 101, Nets 83: At East Rutherford, N.J., Richard Hamilton scored 22 points and Detroit shot 78 percent in the third quarter in beating New Jersey for its sixth straight victory.
It marked the seventh straight game the Pistons have held their opponent under 90 points.
Nuggets 125, Bucks 105: At Denver, Marcus Camby had a triple-double and Carmelo Anthony posted his fourth straight double-double as the Nuggets beat Milwaukee.
Anthony, who had four double-doubles last season and six so far this year, finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds in three quarters of work.
Spurs 94, Bulls 79: At San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 28 points and the Spurs easily beat Chicago in the Bulls’ first game since firing coach Scott Skiles.
Magic 110, Knicks 96: At Orlando, Fla., Hedo Turkoglu scored 26 points, Rashard Lewis added 25 and the Magic broke a four-game home losing streak with a victory over New York.
Warriors 105, Timberwolves 101: At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis scored a career-high 35 points to go with six rebounds and four assists, and Golden State held on to beat Minnesota.
Hornets 116, Grizzlies 98: At Memphis, Tenn., Chris Paul had 40 points and nine assists, and New Orleans used a third-quarter spurt to beat Memphis.
Jazz 99, Mavericks 90: At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer scored 21 points, including six of Utah’s last seven, and the Jazz held off Dallas.