Hawks-Clippers Preview

The Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks have both enjoyed periods of success this season, but those times are long gone.

The Clippers and Hawks both try to get back on track when they begin the second halves of their respective seasons on Wednesday at Staples Center.

Los Angeles (13-28) opened this season with four consecutive victories for the first time since 1985-86, joining Western Conference-leading New Orleans and Eastern Conference-leading Boston as the only other teams to start 4-0.

While the Hornets and Celtics still lead their respective conferences, very little has gone right for the Clippers since their strong start. Los Angeles, which has the fourth-worst record in the West, has just nine victories since Nov. 9, with none of them coming consecutively.

The Hawks (18-23), meanwhile, have had only slightly more recent success than the Clippers. Atlanta had the East's fourth-best record on Dec. 26 at 14-12, but has lost 11 of 15 since to fall to seventh place in the conference.

The Hawks are coming off their most lopsided defeat of the season, a 125-92 loss at Phoenix on Tuesday. Atlanta, which lost for its sixth time in seven games, shot a season-low 34.3 percent from the floor while allowing the Suns to shoot an opponent season-high 64.2 percent.

Marvin Williams scored 18 points to lead the Hawks.

"We just didn't show up tonight," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "Marvin (Williams) was pretty good tonight, he competed. The other four guys didn't compete and it showed across the board. (We) should be embarrassed."

Joe Johnson, who is averaging a team-high 21.3 points, shot just 3-for-14 from the field and managed nine points. Johnson, who is averaging just 13.8 points on 31.3 percent shooting in his last four games, had 27 points in each of Atlanta's two games against Los Angeles last season,

The Hawks swept the 2006-07 season series from the Clippers for the first time since 2002-03. Los Angeles had won the six previous meetings.

The Clippers suffered their third straight loss and 15th in 19 games Monday, falling 107-100 to Charlotte.

Los Angeles shot a season-high 55.1 percent from the floor overall, but missed all eight of its 3-point attempts and was outscored 21-0 from 3-point range.

The Clippers were without Corey Maggette (flu-like symptoms) and Chris Kaman (bruised left shin) against the Bobcats, although both could return for this game.

"Guys get sick or hurt and everybody else has to step up," said Los Angeles forward Tim Thomas, who had season highs of 29 points and 13 rebounds on Monday. "It's been that way all year, but we've got enough guys to lace them up and play ball."

Maggette, who is averaging a team-high 20.9 points, managed only five in his only game against the Hawks last season, a 96-93 home loss.

Kaman, the NBA's third-leading rebounder (13.9) and shot blocker (3.0), fared better against Atlanta in 2006-07, with 28 points, 19 boards and seven blocks in the two games.

The Hawks and Clippers wrap up their season series March 14 in Atlanta.