Sharp elbow leaves Howard in stitches By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/20/06 The Hawks welcomed former Southwest Atlanta Christian star Dwight Howard back to town with four stitches in his lip after he took an elbow to the face from Zaza Pachulia in the first half of the Hawks' overtime win over Orlando on Sunday afternoon at Philips Arena. "He caught me pretty good," Howard said. "He's one of those guys who plays with his arms up and he's aggressive down there, so you have to be careful." Howard's two free throws with 47.3 seconds to play in the extra session gave the Magic a 107-103 lead. But it wasn't enough to keep the Hawks from rallying and winning on Pachulia's tip-in of a Joe Johnson layup with 2.4 seconds to play. "I was trying to contest the shot," said Howard, who finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. "It was me and two other guys that tried to contest the shot, and we left [Zaza] wide open under the basket for the tip." ‧ ROOKIES DON'T MAKE TRIP: Hawks rookies Marvin Williams and Salim Stoudamire both will miss tonight's game in Detroit. Williams left the team after Sunday's game to go to North Carolina, where his father and other family members are with his ailing grandfather. He said he planned to meet the team in Philadelphia in time for Wednesday night's game against the 76ers. Stoudamire stayed back to have further tests on his right elbow. He got caught between two Magic players on a pick late in the third quarter and did not return. Hawks coach Mike Woodson said Stoudamire had a sprained elbow. Stoudamire said he wasn't sure when he would be back in uniform. "All I know is I heard something pop," he said after the game. "I'll just have to wait and see what they [doctors] say and go from there." ‧ BIG SHOT JOSH? What's gotten into Hawks forward Josh Smith? Friday night he stroked a season-high four 3-pointers in a loss to Utah. But his biggest shot from deep came late in the game Sunday. With the Hawks trailing 105-100 and 70 seconds to play, he nailed a 3-pointer that sparked the comeback win. And that was after missing from nearly the same spot a possession earlier. "I probably wouldn't have taken that shot two months ago," Smith said after sticking the Magic for 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. "Coach [Woodson] has put confidence in me, and [assistant coach David] Fizdale has been telling me that if I make a mistake to just move on and try to make another great play. They didn't run at me, so I took the three and made it." 原文转载 http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0320hawksnotes.html --

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