BOSTON | There’s something about Friday nights and home games that’s not working for the Boston Celtics.Joe Johnson scored 24 points, Jamal Crawford had 18, and the Atlanta Hawks pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 97-86 win over the Celtics on Friday night. Josh Smith scored 14, and Al Horford had 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Hawks, 7-2, continued their strong start, sending Boston to its second straight Friday night home loss. Last week, Phoenix gave Boston, 8-2, its first loss of the season after a 7-0 start. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 24 points despite bruising his left knee early in the third quarter. Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins scored 14 points apiece. Pierce bruised his knee colliding with Smith on a drive to the basket. <hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> OTHER GAMES •At Orlando 88, N. Jersey 72 •Utah 112, at Philadelphia 90 •Golden State 121, at N.Y. 107 •Dallas 89, at Minnesota 77 •Portland 86, at N. Orleans 78 •At Sacramento 109, Houston 100 •At Denver 105, LA Lakers79 •Toronto 104, at LA Clippers 89HIGHLIGHTS •Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points in 29 minutes as the Nuggets snapped the Lakers’ six-game winning streak. LA scored just eight points in the third quarter.•LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Trail Blazers beat the Hornets in their first game under new coach Jeff Bower. Byron Scott was fired on Thursday. Hornets star Chris Paul sprained his ankle at the end of the third quarter.•The Magic’s Dwight Howard had 26 points and 12 rebounds.•Stephen Jackson scored 23 points as the Warriors sent the 1-9 Knicks to the worst 10-game start in franchise history.•Dirk Nowitzki scored 15 of his 20 points in the third quarter and also grabbed 11 rebounds for the Mavericks.•The Kings’ Jason Thompson had a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds.NEWS •LeBron James wants NBA players to give up their No. 23s to honor Michael Jordan. James, who has worn 23 since he was a high school sophomore, believes players should pay tribute to Jordan for his impact on the game. James said he’s willing to switch to No. 6 — his U.S. Olympic team number — and wants to start a petition to get every player in the league wearing 23 to give up the number. </div>

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Posted on Fri, Nov. 13, 2009 11:09 PM

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Hawks take down Celtics in Boston

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BOSTON | There’s something about Friday nights and home games that’s not working for the Boston Celtics.

Joe Johnson scored 24 points, Jamal Crawford had 18, and the Atlanta Hawks pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 97-86 win over the Celtics on Friday night.

Josh Smith scored 14, and Al Horford had 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Hawks, 7-2, continued their strong start, sending Boston to its second straight Friday night home loss.

Last week, Phoenix gave Boston, 8-2, its first loss of the season after a 7-0 start.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 24 points despite bruising his left knee early in the third quarter. Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins scored 14 points apiece. Pierce bruised his knee colliding with Smith on a drive to the basket.

OTHER GAMES
•At Orlando 88, N. Jersey 72

•Utah 112, at Philadelphia 90

•Golden State 121, at N.Y. 107

•Dallas 89, at Minnesota 77

•Portland 86, at N. Orleans 78

•At Sacramento 109, Houston 100

•At Denver 105, LA Lakers79

•Toronto 104, at LA Clippers 89

HIGHLIGHTS
•Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points in 29 minutes as the Nuggets snapped the Lakers’ six-game winning streak. LA scored just eight points in the third quarter.

•LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Trail Blazers beat the Hornets in their first game under new coach Jeff Bower. Byron Scott was fired on Thursday. Hornets star Chris Paul sprained his ankle at the end of the third quarter.

•The Magic’s Dwight Howard had 26 points and 12 rebounds.

•Stephen Jackson scored 23 points as the Warriors sent the 1-9 Knicks to the worst 10-game start in franchise history.

•Dirk Nowitzki scored 15 of his 20 points in the third quarter and also grabbed 11 rebounds for the Mavericks.

•The Kings’ Jason Thompson had a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds.

NEWS
•LeBron James wants NBA players to give up their No. 23s to honor Michael Jordan. James, who has worn 23 since he was a high school sophomore, believes players should pay tribute to Jordan for his impact on the game. James said he’s willing to switch to No. 6 — his U.S. Olympic team number — and wants to start a petition to get every player in the league wearing 23 to give up the number.

Posted on Fri, Nov. 13, 2009 11:09 PM

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