Everything You Need to Know - Hawks vs. Nuggets - Nov. 7, 2009

• In charge of this one from the opening tip, the Atlanta Hawks won a big contest Saturday with a 125-100 triumph over the Denver Nuggets.
• Playing their fifth game in seven days, the Hawks were faced with a difficult back-to-back opponent in the Nuggets and crushed them with seven players in double figures and a decisive edge on the boards.
• For the first time all year, Atlanta had three players with 20-plus points, led by Jamal Crawford's 25, and Josh Smith and Joe Johnson with 22.
• The Hawks are unbeaten in three games at Philips Arena and five straight dating back to last season.
• In addition to the 20+ scorers, Marvin Williams finished with 14, while Maurice Evans tallied 12 and Al Horford and Mike Bibby each had 11.
• Horford's game-high 12 rebounds was his fourth double-double of the year.
• The 125 points by Atlanta were a season high, and the 30 assists equaled a team-high.
• Atlanta's off until Wednesday when the Hawks travel to the Big Apple to face the New York Knicks (7:30 pm, 780 AM, SPSO).
  

-Tonight was a night when you leave the Highlight Factory wondering how Josh Smith has never been an All-Star. He did almost anything he wanted to tonight and made Chris Anderson, one of the most energetic players in the NBA, look slow in the process. He only missed two shots on his way to 22 points. His six blocks were all impressive, but the last one was the most important. The Hawks 24 point lead from the third quarter had been cut in half and Anderson was about to make it a 10 point game with a breakaway dunk less than a minute into the fourth. Smith went up a step higher and blocked the shot from behind. Joe hit a three the ensuing Hawks possession and the lead was back up to a safer feeling 15 points.

-Melo did finish with 30 points, but it came on 7-of-21 shooting, and was helped by 18 trips to the free throw line. The length and athleticism of Marvin, Josh, Al and even Mo kept Anthony's shot looking a bit rushed all night long.

-This year's team seems to have adopted a pattern that we can all get used to. Crawford is going to get plenty of minutes and 20 points or more will happen regularly. Joe and Bibby's shooting touch might seem a little off some nights, but once the fourth quarter begins you can count on them to supply the daggers. The duo combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter tonight (Bibby was 3-for-3 from long range).

-From the Highlight Factory - Official Hawks Blog: Now that previously unbeaten Denver has lost two in a row to Southeast Division teams, is it time the Hawks' division got more credit?