Atlanta Hawks Team Report - November 21

(Basketball News) - The Atlanta Hawks early season struggles continued on Saturday, as they dropped a 92-79 decision to the Utah Jazz at Philips Arena.

Al Harrington posted 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks, who have dropped seven of their first nine contests this season. Josh Childress chipped in a career-high 16 points and Antoine Walker netted 15 with eight boards in the setback.

The Jazz led by three at halftime, but opened up a 60-52 lead on Gordan Giricek’s jumper with around eight minutes left in the third quarter. Utah increased the gap to as many as nine points late in the period, however, the Hawks cut into the deficit and trailed 69-63 after three frames.

In the fourth quarter, Utah scored eight of the first nine points, capped by Carlos Boozer’s basket, to make it 77-64 with 7:46 left. Atlanta then used an 8-0 spurt and closed within five with just over five minutes left in the game, but the Jazz scored five consecutive points to claim an 82-72 lead with around four minutes left in the game.

However, the Hawks would not go away quietly as they scored the next five points to again pull within five. Atlanta, though, would not get any closer in the waning minutes as the Jazz closed the game on a 10-2 run.

Atlanta activated guard Tony Delk from the injure list prior to the game. Delk, who had been sidelined with a sore right knee, finished with two points and two assists in 15 minutes.

The Hawks will return to action on Tuesday against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. In that contest Atlanta will unveil their new yellow alternate uniforms