Hawks end Utah's 12-game winning streak

[March 12, 2009]  ATLANTA (AP) -- Joe Johnson scored 31 points and Josh Smith had 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Hawks end Utah's 12-game winning streak with a 100-93 victory over the Jazz on Wednesday night.

After Mehmet Okur's 20-footer gave Utah an 87-85 lead with 5:02 remaining, the Jazz failed to score field goal.

The Hawks, who ended Cleveland's 11-game winning streak on Dec. 13, led until Okur's straightaway 3-pointer put Utah up 62-60 at the 4:44 mark of the third quarter. Atlanta has won three straight.

Flip Murray scored 11 of his

16 points in the fourth quarter for the Hawks. Smith ended the scoring with a pair of free throws with 24.3 seconds remaining.

Deron Williams, who was instrumental in holding Mike Bibby to two points on a 1-for-6 performance from the field, led the Jazz with 20 points and nine assists.

Paul Millsap had 16 points and nine rebounds in a reserve role for Utah, which was outscored 32-14 in fast-break points.

With a 12-point victory at the Pacers on Tuesday, the Jazz had their longest winning streak since 1996-97. They also had taken 12 straight and 18 of 21 games from Atlanta.

After Millsap's jumper with 5:02 left, Utah suffered through two turnovers, Carlos Boozer's offensive foul, two blocked shots by Smith and another by Al Horford.

Johnson, who finished with 30 points as Atlanta snapped New Orleans' seven-game winning streak on Monday night, had 21 in the first half.

The Hawks were outscored 33-18 in the third quarter, going just 5-for-18 from the field.

Notes: Atlanta F Marvin Williams, who missed his second straight game with lower back pain, spent the day traveling to see a back specialist in Durham, N.C. Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said before the game that the team wouldn't know the status of Williams, a starter who averages 14 points. ... The Jazz had won four straight on the road. ... Utah's combined record for February and March is now 15-2.

[Associated Press; By GEORGE HENRY]

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