11:40 - Josh Smith starts the quarter off right with a tomahawk jam down the left side. That's exactly what we need to start the last 12 minutes. 64-60 Hawks.
10:20 - Did I say Joe was being quiet? He's getting louder by the minute. A drive through traffic for two, then he just pulled up in Shane Battier's face and drilled a 3 to give the Hawks their largest lead of the game, 69-63. He's now got a team leading 16 points.
8:40 - Let me tell you something. Shane Battier is one of the best defenders in the NBA, and he is playing some of the best defense I've seen on Joe Johnson, and guess where it's getting him - nowhere. God it must be frustrating to guard a guy like that. I am glad he's on our team.
7:57 - Flip Murray misses a jam, but the Hawks claim the offensive rebound and get it out to a wide-open Josh Smith. Smoove is 4-16 from the field, so naturally, he takes a three...and swishes it. Booyah! Timeout Rockets, Hawks lead 76-68.
7:15 - Lest you think Houston is going to go quietly, Yao hits a hook and Carl Landry goes and-1 on Smoove (but misses the FT) and it's 76-72. This game is far from over.
5:36 - The Hawks still lead, 76-74, but again the offense has gotten into a funk. The Rockets are helping our cause though, missing free throws and turning the ball over. We need to get the ball back in the hands of Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby, both of whom are shooting the ball well tonight.
5:00 - Blerg. Artest hits a three at the shot-clock buzzer, and Houston regains the lead 77-76.
4:13 - Al Horford is playing very well - he takes Carl Landry inside and hits a high turnaround, and the Hawks go up 78-77. Big basket for Atlanta.
3:25 - Gut check time. The Rockets run off 6 straight, and they lead 83-78 as the Hawks take a timeout. We have fought hard to get back in this game and take the lead, and it would be a shame to let this one slip away. A basket on this next possession would be a good place to start.
2:00 - Didn't happen. Alston hits a three, and Yao scores, and it's now 88-78 Houston. Boy, take out the first 8 minutes of this game and the last 8, and this would be a Hawks romp, Unfortunately those minutes were played as well, and that's why we are where we are.
1:15 - JJ scores, but it's probably too late now, as it's 90-80 Houston. It feels weird that we are going to lose this game by potentially double-digits given the way we played for much of the night, but give credit to the Rockets - they opened and closed the night with their best basketball. I'm off to get some post-game stuff done, and I'll be back with wrap-up later on tonight after we get to San Antonio.
