Ten year NBA veteran, Jamal Crawford, took an overhead pass from Mike Bibby with the Hawks trailing 101-99 in the final seconds in Atlanta. Crawford dribbled twice to his left before ascending swiftly to secure a fadeway 3-point shot as time expired. The heartbreaking Hawks dramatically stunned the Phoenix Suns 102-101 at Phillips Arena behind Al Horford’s 24 points. Crawford dropped 21 as the sun set on the high-paced, high-energy Suns Friday night. The victory, combined with an Orland loss, puts Atlanta in sole possession of first place in the Southeast division.
The Suns were the surefire favorite to win the game, coasting to a 25-17 first quarter advantage. The struggling Suns overcame a 1-6 start from the field to sail higher than the Hawks. Amare Stoudemire formulated 28 points and 14 rebounds for Phoenix but picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter. Stoudemire’s replacement, Robin Lopez, sparked the Suns’ surge before the visitors dropped their second road contest during a four game stretch. Lopez scored a season high 11 points in the loss. The Hawks went 1-11 in the paint during the opening quarter and missed 19 of 25 shots. Joe Johnson and Crawford promptly perked up in the second quarter to erase a 12 point Suns lead. Johnson finished with 19 points and six assists. Atlanta outscored Phoenix 33-30 but was slowed by Grant Hill’s 15 points during the second quarter. The 37 year old poured in nine during the first quarter. Hill scorched the Hawks with 21 total points. Atlanta tied the game at 41 before Steve Nash re-entered the game and carried the Suns to a 55-50 edge at the break. The Suns outscored the Hawks in the paint, but Atlanta won the battle of rebounds.
Horford and the Hawks responded in the second half with an early 11-0 run to built a one-point lead. The scoring spurt put Atlanta on top by as many as seven, and their first command since they led 6-4 in the opening minutes. Phoenix’s offense started to pick up at the end of the quarter. Second year Yugoslavian native, Goran Dragic, connected with five seconds in the third quarter to make it a three point deficit for the Suns. Atlanta was charged with four fouls in the final quarter and the Suns scored the first five points to re-take the lead. Atlanta went without a point until Bibby deposited a 3-pointer with just over seven minutes remaining. Lopez’s lashed out his defensive prowess to stop Johnson, one of his game-high six blocks Friday. Nash added a 20-footer to give his team a six point lead with under four minutes. Lopez’s free throw provided the Suns 94-88 gain before the Hawks tied the game on Josh Smith’s awesome dunk. The score remained deadlocked following a Nash miss from the arc. An inspired Stoudemire snagged the rebound but the Suns’ shooter was called for traveling. An uncontested Dragic dunk and Stoudemire slap made it a four point game with a minute on the clock. Horford was perfect from the charity stripe to bring the Hawks back within two before Nash extended the Suns lead with a pair of free throws. Crawford corralled a missed shot by Smith and tossed it the Hawks’ way to cut the lead to 100-99. Stoudemire made one of two frees with three ticks remaining. Crawford sank the game winning basket to sting the Suns and lift the Hawks, locking up a big moment victory at home.
Parting Points: Saturday’s tremendous tune- The catchy “I’ll be there for you” Friends’ theme by the Rembrandts.
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