EAST RUTHERFORD(AP)- Al Horford made his case for being the best of the four rookies coming from the University of Florida national championship team. The rooke center tallied 23 points and 20 rebounds leading his team to a dominating 99-85 victory over the New Jersey Nets.
Horford made easy work of obviously worn out Jamaal Magloire as well as Josh Boone and Nenad Krstic, as the rookie shot 10-12 from the field and pulled down 6 offensive boards.
\"He was a man against boys out there,\" Mike Woodson said. \"Which is impressive considering he\'s the youngest big man out there.\"
Horford was just one of many contributors to the Hawks 60 point outburst in the first half. Horford scored 18 of the team\'s 36 points in the paint in the half and 23 of the total 60.
\"We took and made the easy shots,\" Woodson added. \"It was better to take and make close shots than to be 1-4 from three point range like we were.\"
\"I wanted it to be that way because I told our guys to go to the basket as much as possible.\"
With Joe Johnson struggling to find his jumpshot, Josh Childress was forced to try to get something going. The wingman was sucessful, hitting all 7 of his shots for a 16 point, 7 rebound outing.
The Hawks had three players in double figures, the last one being Josh Smith who added 14 and 8 boards. Johnson and Acie Law added 8, while the Williams\'s each tallied 6.
The final score was closer due to the fact that the Hawks were outscored 26-16 in the final quarter, making the game closer than it really was.
The Hawks will now head to Phoenix to take on the undefeated and high powered Phoenix Suns.
