Kobe Bryant 2012/2013 Preseason MIX - Statik [HD]

Kobe Bryant 39 points vs Atlanta Hawks 2005/2006

ESPN Report:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The youthful Atlanta Hawks have shown promise at times this season, counting the high-flying San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons among their victims.

The Lakers aren't in that class, but the Hawks felt awfully good about beating them Wednesday night since they accomplished the feat in Los Angeles.

Josh Smith had 21 points and 15 rebounds to match his career bests, Josh Childress scored 10 of his season-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, and the Hawks held off the Lakers 114-110 to snap a 23-game road losing streak to Western Conference teams.

"We have had a couple good road wins, but this is by far the best," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "Our young kids did it tonight and you need to tip your hat to them. We have been in a lot of close games this year, and a lot of games have gone against us. Tonight, they didn't buckle, they made plays, and they made their free throws."

Joe Johnson had 20 points and a career-high 15 assists and three other players scored in double figures for the Hawks, who were 0-12 on the road against Western Conference teams this season and lost their last 11 last season.

The Hawks (16-34) hadn't beaten a team from the West on the road since Nov. 12, 2004, when they won at New Orleans 96-95. They enter the All-Star break having won four of their last seven.

Kobe Bryant had 39 points and nine assists for the Lakers (26-26), who enter the break having lost six of their last eight. Lamar Odom had 17 points, Devean George added 16 andBrian Cook scored 15.

The Lakers shot 55.9 percent in the first three quarters, but were only 9-of-25 (36 percent) in the final period. They were even worse from the foul line, going 6-of-15. Bryant was the main culprit, going 4-of-10.

"We just had a lid on the basket -- it was just one of those nights," Bryant said. "We missed some free throws down the stretch and it cost us the ballgame. We didn't do a good job protecting the basket. They got a lot of layups."

Childress scored seven points during a 14-3 run that gave the Hawks a 97-89 lead with seven minutes remaining, and a basket by Johnson with 4:28 left made it 101-92.

Bryant scored six points before a 3-pointer by Odom with 2:06 left drew Los Angeles within one point.

But that was as close as the Lakers would get.

Odom made another basket with 1:07 to play, making it 109-107, and the Lakers had a chance to tie following a turnover. But Smush Parker missed on a dunk attempt, and Johnson's follow shot with 22.7 seconds left put the Hawks ahead by four.

Childress clinched the victory by making two free throws with 1.5 seconds left.

"There was no contact, I just blew the dunk," Parker said. "I knew Josh Smith was trailing and I tried to go up with two hands. I just blew it."

Said Smith: "I knew that I was either going to foul him or I was going to block the shot, but I didn't want him to get anything easy going down in crunch time. So I ran down and made a play on the ball and caused him to miss."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he couldn't explain the Lakers' horrendous foul shooting down the stretch.

"I don't think we have an excuse," he said. "The guys who had opportunities didn't connect."

The Hawks outrebounded the Lakers 28-13 in the second half and 42-25 overall.

"We went small," Jackson said. "Kwame (Brown) hurt himself a little bit and stopped playing hard. We really missed his rebounding. Lamar got in foul trouble, and he's our best rebounder."

Royal Ivey scored seven points as the Hawks opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run for a 65-59 lead. Los Angeles bounced back, using two 3-pointers by Bryant and one each by George and Cook to go ahead 73-69. The Lakers led 84-83 going into the fourth quarter.

The Lakers went on a 16-2 run for a 25-10 lead, and were on top 33-23 after the opening quarter thanks to a 14-of-24 shooting performance and only one turnover.

Brown had eight of his 10 points and all three of his rebounds in the first half, which ended with the Lakers leading 57-53.

Game notes

The Lakers and Hawks split their two-game season series for the sixth straight season. ... The Hawks are just 5-20 on the road this season. ... Lakers starting center Chris Mihmmissed his sixth game because of a sprained right shoulder. Jackson said Mihm was improving, and probably would have played had it been a postseason game. ... The Hawks have used the same starting lineup in 29 straight games. ... The Lakers are 13-3 in their last 16 home games against the Hawks. ... The Lakers have played the fewest home games (23) and the most road games (29) in the NBA. ... Lakers F Ronny Turiaf made two free throws late in the third quarter for his first NBA points.