(My Sportsbook) - The
Atlanta Hawks resume a three-game road trip in Hollywood Wednesday when they face the reeling
Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.
The Hawks dropped the opener of their trip and their fourth straight game overall Tuesday in Phoenix when Shaquille O'Neal scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Suns to a 107-102 victory over Atlanta.
Josh Smith had 24 points and 10 boards for the Hawks, who are playing without star center Al Horford, who did not make the trip because of a balky knee. Mike Bibby chipped in 17 points and Marvin Williams 16 and 12 rebounds in Tuesday's loss.
The Hawks, who are 7-11 as the visitor on the year, will finish their trip in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors on January 16.
The injury-ravaged Clips, meanwhile, opened a six-game homestand in ignominious fashion when they dropped their 11th game in a row on Sunday, also to Phoenix. Amare Stoudemire posted 26 points and seven rebounds in that one as the Suns topped LA, 109-103.
Al Thornton finished with a team-high 23 points and eight rebounds for the Clippers. Marcus Camby recorded 18 points and 18 boards, while Mardy Collins and Eric Gordon chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Star point guard Baron Davis (tailbone) and big men Zach Randolph (knee) and Chris Kaman (foot) remain on the sidelines for Los Angeles, which hasn't won since a 117-109 double-overtime victory in Indianapolis on December 19.
LA, which is a dismal 3-15 at Staples Center, will also face Milwaukee, Minnesota, the LA Lakers and Oklahoma City on its residency.
The Hawks have won three of their past four meetings with the Clips, but have lost four of their past five games in LA against the Clippers.