Associated Press
ATLANTA ó This is why the Atlanta Hawks wanted to start the playoffs at home.
With Josh Smith delivering one rim-shaking dunk after another and plenty of teammates chipping in, the Hawks made Miami look like a one-man team, running Dwyane Wade and the Heat ragged for a 90-64 blowout in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series Sunday night.
Wade scored 19 points ó 11 below his NBA-leading average ó and only one other Miami even reached double figures as the Hawks tied a franchise record for fewest points allowed in a playoff game. Wade spent much of the night on his backside or complaining to the referees, his frustration growing as the Hawks turned the opener to the best-of-seven series into a laugher before halftime.
Game 2 is Wednesday night in Atlanta.
Miami was held to its fewest points of the season ó its previous low was 68 ó and the Hawks tied the mark they set against the Charlotte Hornets in a 1998 playoff victory.
Smith scored 23 points and every other Atlanta starter also was in double figures. Wade made just 8 of 21 shots, and Michael Beasley added 10 points on a night in which the Heat showed their youth, shooting just 37 percent and managing seven points in the final period.