Hawks 99, Knicks 90: Crawford Burns Former Team

New York, NY (Sports Network) – Jamal Crawford led six Hawks in double figures with 21 points off the bench, as Atlanta stopped New York’s win streak with a 99-90 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Al Horford added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Hawks, who have won two straight since losing three in a row. Additionally, Atlanta halted a three- game losing streak to the Knicks.

Mike Bibby contributed 14 points in the victory, while Josh Smith and Marvin Williams each had 13.

Amare Stoudemire scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who were in search of their first six-game win streak since January, 2006. Raymond Felton had 18 points, while Landry Fields provided 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Wilson Chandler also had 15 points for New York.

The Hawks never trailed and took an early 16-9 lead after a pair of Smith jumpers in the early moments.

The lead grew to 27-14 behind a Crawford jumper and three-pointer on consecutive possessions, and it was 32-22 heading to the second.

Atlanta led by at least 10 throughout the entire second quarter and went up by as many as 20 after Bibby’s three-pointer in the final minute of the half. The shot made it 56-36, though Felton’s bucket in the closing seconds cut the halftime margin to 18.

The Knicks sliced their deficit to seven at 67-60 behind an 8-0 burst that ended on a Chandler basket with three minutes left in the third. Maurice Evans’ 11-footer with 30 seconds left in the period gave the Hawks a 75-66 advantage heading to the fourth.

New York began the final 12-minute session with five consecutive points, and Chandler’s three-point play made it a 75-71 contest. Atlanta, though, responded with the next seven points to grab an 11-point lead following back- to-back baskets by Horford.

A string of seven straight points by the Hawks a short time later made it an 89-75 game after Crawford sank a 14-foot jumper with 6:35 left, and the New York didn’t threaten the outcome down the stretch.

New York Knicks Vs. Atlanta Hawks: Knicks Look For Sixth Straight Victory

The New York Knicks have won five straight games to reach the .500 mark at 8-8. Some, however, might question the validity of the Knicks' streak since none of those victories came against teams with winning records. Today at Madison Square Garden, though, the Knicks host the 9-7 Atlanta Hawks. Thus, a chance for the Knicks to show their streak is not a fluke.

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni is not thrilled when the quality of the winning streak is questioned.