Hawks  110    Clippers  92

Recap: LA Clippers vs. Atlanta

Sports Network | February 18, 2010

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Al Horford tallied a career-high 31 points, and the Atlanta Hawks notched a 110-92 win over the reeling Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.

Horford went a highly efficient 12-of-15 from the field for the Hawks, who have won four of five and began a four-game western trip on a good note. Josh Smith added 20 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals, while Joe Johnson contributed with 18 points in the win.

"I was very pleased tonight," said Hawks head coach Mike Woodson. "We established ourselves early. Our defense was solid. (Horford) was smooth tonight, and the supporting cast played well. It was a team effort."

Jamal Crawford provided 12 points in a reserve role for Atlanta, which shot 54.4 percent from the field.

Chris Kaman had 21 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Clippers, who have lost six straight and fell to 0-5 under new head coach Kim Hughes. Rasual Butler and Eric Gordon each scored 18 points, while Craig Smith had 15 points in the loss.

"We showed signs of playing the right way, but we shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers," said Clippers head coach Kim Hughes.

Ahead by six to start the fourth, Atlanta ran away with the game in the final 12 minutes.

A 15-3 spurt began the fourth quarter and essentially sealed the victory. Horford had five during the spurt, which Crawford finished with a technical free throw for a 96-78 advantage.

The lead ballooned to 21, 103-82, following a Smith free throw with 5 1/2 minutes left, and the Clippers didn't threaten down the stretch.

Atlanta held a 29-26 lead after one quarter, and an 8-2 burst to begin the second gave the visitors a nine-point advantage after Jeff Teague's dunk.

The lead grew to as many as 16, 54-38, after a Smith layup, but a Clippers rally toward the end of the period had the hosts trailing, 56-44, at halftime.

A Horford basket midway through the third had the Hawks ahead by a 71-57 margin, but Los Angeles scored the next eight points to get to within striking distance. Kaman's dunk made it a 71-65 game with four minutes left, and it was an 81-75 game heading to the fourth after a pair of Butler three-pointers at the tail end of the quarter.

The Hawks will also play the Suns, Warriors and Jazz on their road trip...Atlanta is now 13-12 on the road and swept the season series, 2-0, from Los Angeles...The Clippers shot 50.7 percent from the field...Despite the Hawks' shooting prowess, they went 0-of-7 from three-point range...Guard Steve Blake played for the Clippers for the first time since being traded from Portland and had three points and nine assists...Los Angeles played a minor role in a three-team deal that sent forward Antawn Jamison from Washington to Cleveland. The Clippers sent forward Al Thornton to the Wizards and guard Sebastian Telfair to the Cavs while receiving center Drew Gooden from Washington.