MOOKIE Blaylock scored 28 points as the Atlanta Hawks ended a three-game losing streak with a 102-91 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA.
Atlanta nearly squandered a 17-point lead by going scoreless over the first 71/2 minutes of the fourth quarter as Portland closed within 85-81.
Grant Long broke the drought with two free throws with 4:38 left to push the lead back up to 87-81. The Trail Blazers got no closer than six points.
Cliff Robinson scored 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field for Portland, who have now dropped four straight.
Steve Smith added 24 points and Grant Long contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta, who nailed 9-of-10 shots in the first quarter to grab a 34-22 lead.
Jerome Kersey came off the bench for Portland to key a 18-3 run over five minutes midway through the second quarter to creep within 45-42. Kersey finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Rod Strickland had 19 points and 15 assists and Harvey Grant pitched in 12 points for the Blazers, whose reserves outscored the Hawk bench 36-12.