Despite time clock issues, a leaky roof and a sluggish start to the game the Atlanta Hawks were able to rally together in the second half to blowout the Dallas Mavericks 104-87. The perception earlier on in the day was that this game would be postponed due to inclement weather as the Dallas Mavericks had already packed their bags and equipment onto the team bus, but the NBA ruled to move forward with the matchup much to the displeasure of the Mavericks who were missing three starters.

The Mavericks had released a team statement earlier in the afternoon that they would suspend Rajon Rondo one-game for conduct detrimental to the team. They would also be without Chandler Parsons who is still nursing a left ankle sprain and their starting center, Tyson Chandler, who was still dealing with a sore ankle and now a hip contusion. Amar'e Stoudemire was also given a rest as the team was playing the second game of a back-to-back.

Nonetheless, the Mavericks got off to a blazing hot start to the game as they got off to an 11-3 start with Richard Jefferson, starting in place of Parsons, and J.J Barea, starting in place of Rondo, hitting a couple three pointers to start off the first quarter. Oddly enough the shot clock froze on two seperate occasions at the nine and four minute mark of the quarter, and play had to be stopped both times to reset the time. The game was also suspended for about four minutes as a leak started from the top of the arena and had to be cleaned up and fixed before play could resume for player safety reasons. Despite several disruptions of play it had no ill effect on Monta Ellis who had his jump shot going early on as he hit his first three mid-range shots from the floor to help give the Mavs a 12-point lead,34-22, by the end of the first quarter.

The momentum would be short-lived, however, as the Hawks charged back forcing a timeout by Carlisle with 7:57 remaining in the half after the Dallas' lead dwindled to 41-34. Carlisle had to burn another timeout shortly after that as Hawks All-Star point guard Jeff Teague brought the home team within four on an easy drive for a layup.

Ellis would respond as he carried the load for the Mavs offensively with a pair of timely jump shots that gave him 15 points in the first half and held the Hawks at bay as the Mavs took a 53-47 lead into halftime.Along with Ellis' scoring performance in the first half the Mavericks outshot the Hawks 52.6 percent to 40.9 percent and held a 23-16 rebounding advantage through 24 minutes of play.

Despite the impressive first half by the Mavs the Hawks would make a statement in the third quarter as they doubled up the Mavs 30-to-15 in the frame, led by a balanced Hawks attack with Kyle Korver and Dennis Schroder spreading the floor with their three-point shooting. A 19-4 run by the Hawks in the third gave them a 77-68 lead going into the fourth with little resistance by the Mavs, with the exception of Barea and Ellis doing their best to keep the Mavs in the game.

The Hawks blew down the door on this game in the fourth quarter with Korver hitting another pair of three-pointers along with Paul Millsap and Al Hortford each hitting their mid-range shots. A Korver three-pointer with 9:22 remaining pushed the lead to 89-68, their biggest of the game. Carlisle was forced to burn his last timeout and evidently took Nowitzki and Ellis out of the game, leaving the reserves to finish this one out.

The Hawks got off to a slow start but came on strong in the second half, led by Dennis Schroder and his team-high 17 points from the field. The Hawks would wind up outshooting the Mavs 45.9 percent to 42.5 percent despite losing the battle on the boards, 44-41.

Ellis led the Mavs in a losing effort scoring 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting while Barea added 13 points starting at point guard for the suspended Rajon Rondo. Dirk Nowitzki had perhaps his worst game on the season, scoring a season-low four points on 2-of-7 shooting, and it couldn't have come at a worser time with so many starters missing from the lineup.

The Mavericks drop to 39-21 on the season and will return to Dallas to take on the Brooklyn Nets Saturday, February 28, night.