Hawks at Spurs
THE STORY: Ask any Atlanta Hawks player if he remembers the last time the team won in San Antonio and you would get blank stares. That’s because none of them were with the team and only one, Jerry Stackhouse, was even in the league. You have to go back to Feb. 15, 1997, to find the last Hawks victory in San Antonio, a streak of 13 games. The Hawks will look to end that run of futility as they resume their five-game road swing Wednesday night against the Spurs. San Antonio is 9-1 at home this season, but lost its last home game, 88-86, to Sacramento. Atlanta, first in the Southeast Division, is coming off a 97-92 victory at Milwaukee behind a season-high 28 points from Joe Johnson. The Spurs edged New Orleans 104-102 that same night on Tim Duncan’s running hook shot with 1.4 seconds remaining. Duncan scored a season-high 28.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Hawks), FS Southwest (Spurs)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (13-5): Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich has missed 17 games after surgery on his left shoulder, but made the trip. He has been practicing hard, according to coach Larry Drew, and could be in action as soon as tonight. “I can't wait to see him in a Hawks uniform again,” Drew said. “I do understand he is close. That's good news.” Whenever Hinrich returns, he will remain starting point guard Jeff Teague’s backup, Drew said. “We need him back,” Johnson said. “We need all hands on deck right now, especially on this trip.”
ABOUT THE SPURS (11-7): Duncan, who shot 11 of 19 on Monday and had seven rebounds, admitted he had some luck in making the winner over Emeka Okafor at New Orleans. “I couldn’t do it again if I tried,” he said. “It went in that one time. That’s all that matters.” New Orleans coach Monty Williams, his former teammate, wasn’t surprised. “That is why he is one of the best power forwards of all time and one of the best players in the history of the game. Those situations don't bother him."
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Hawks have yet to allow an opponent to shoot 50 percent or better from the field this season
2. In two games against the Hawks last season, Spurs guard Tony Parker averaged 21.5 points, five assists and 3.5 rebounds.
3. Former Spurs forward Bruce Bowen will have his No. 12 jersey retired before a March 21 home game against Minnesota.