Jamal Crawford scores 28 points, Hawks beat Wizards to end road losing streak at 6

Hawks beat Wizards to end road losing streak

WASHINGTON — Jamal Crawford scored 23 of his 28 points in the second half and the Atlanta Hawks snapped a six-game road losing streak with a 105-95 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

Joe Johnson scored 20 points to help the Hawks remain in third place in the Eastern Conference and sweep the season series with the Wizards.

Andray Blatche scored 24 points, and Nick Young had 23 for the Wizards, who have been swept by the Hawks in consecutive seasons and have lost nine straight overall against the Southeast Division rival.

Neither team led by more than six points through three quarters and the Hawks trailed 76-71 with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter.

But Crawford scored the Hawks next 11 points, including a jumper with 3.2 seconds remaining the quarter that tied it at 78 and he finished off his personal run with a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter.

After the Wizards tied it again at 83, Crawford made another 3-pointer, this one starting a decisive 11-0 run. His finishing touch was getting fouled on his fifth made 3-pointer of the night. The subsequent free throw gave him his 28th career four-point play and the Hawks a 103-90 lead with 2:42 remaining.

The Hawks, who entered the game a game ahead of Boston, had their hands full with a resurgent Wizards squad that had won four of six after a 16-game losing streak.

Young connected on all three of his 3-point shots, hit eight of his first nine field-goal attempts and scored 19 points, but the Hawks led 52-50 at the end of a competitive first half. With both sides shooting over 50 percent from the floor, there were 13 lead changes, four ties and neither team led by more than six points. Every Atlanta starter made at least half of their attempts and the Wizards shot 72.2 percent (13-for-18) in the first quarter before a sellout crowd of 20,173.

NOTES: The Wizards announced that they have signed guard Cedric Jackson for the reminder of the season. Jackson originally signed March 31 and has averaged 1.3 points in three games for the Wizards. … The Hawks’ final two games of the season are against fellow playoff squads. Monday they play at Milwaukee and then return home for the season finale against Cleveland on Wednesday.