FINAL
(31-27) 91 – 102 (33-23) 
Key Performers:
A. Horford (ATL): 34 pts, 15 reb, 3 asts, 5 blk
A. Jefferson (UTA): 26 pts, 11 reb
[FULL BOX SCORE]
Two Hawks players came into this game on particular hot streaks. Al Horford was hoping to round out his already stellar February (62% shooting) on a high note, while Jeff Teague was looking to continue his high assist output. Add a third name to the list. Josh Smith didn’t shoot the ball particularly well (what’s new?), but he definitely qualified as “in the zone.” The Hawks have everyone on the same page right now, and the team is clicking as a result: the offense is smooth, the defense is (mostly) tenacious, and the execution has been exceptional.
Reaction Grades: [assessed 0-10]
Josh Smith: As I said, add Smith’s name to the list of Hawks on a hot streak. Smith torched the Jazz for 24 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. He struggled on defense against the bigger, and stronger Jazz front line, but he certainly made up for it with activity on the boards and impressive orchestration of the offense down the stretch. Again, the Hawks went to their killer set when they needed a basket most: that Smith-Horford high-low is almost unstoppable, and it put the nail in the coffin tonight in the midst of a Jazz comeback. 9/10
Al Horford: Horford has been playing out of his mind all month, but his performance tonight might have been the culminating outburst of a month full of unrecognized greatness. He scored 34 points (14-22 shooting), grabbed 15 rebounds, and blocked 5 shots. He struggled at times guarding Jefferson, but for the most part he held his ground. And that 34 points? It’s a career high. Horford was unquestionably the second best player in the entire Eastern Conference in the month of February. If he can perform with this sort of efficiency on a consistent basis, he’s a top-15 player in this league. 10/10
Kyle Korver: The main thing we have going for us here is that Korver extended his streak of consecutive games with a three-pointer made. He’s at 50 now! But in 37 minutes of play he scored 4 points on 1-4 shooting. 3/10
Devin Harris: Harris seems to have mastered the concept of a revenge game (Marvin Williams has not). He’s played well against the Mavericks, the Nets, and twice now against the Jazz (also against the Bucks, which sort of counts because he’s from Wisconsin). He loves making a statement, putting on a show for the places with which he was once so familiar. He wasn’t a world-beater tonight like he was the last time Atlanta played Utah, but he was an offensive sparkplug and he ignited Atlanta’s offense early. One thing I’m starting to appreciate about Harris’ transition game is that he really does a great job of reading the defensive gaps– it’s almost like he’s a running back searching for a hole. He just explodes through whatever seem there is and kisses the ball off the glass. He had 12 points on the night. 6/10
Jeff Teague: I’ve opined that a good portion of Horford’s recent dominance can be attributed to the almost equally as recently dominant Teague. He’s been a killer ball handler in the pick-and-pop, finding Horford at the top of the key almost without even looking– he just knows where he’s going to be now, and it’s beautiful basketball. Teague also seems to be finishing better around the rim as of late (I have not statistically confirmed this, but you guys are seeing it too, right?) and that’s been making him more of a threat (if being more of a threat was possible) coming off a screen. He started off slow tonight, but he finished the last 3 quarters playing great basketball. Another great game from Teague with 19 points and 7 assists. 7.5/10 Continue Reading…
