ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Jacque Vaughn and the Atlanta Hawks did what few teams have been able to do this season: outrun the Denver Nuggets.
Vaughn came off the bench to score a career-high 23 points as the Hawks outgunned the Nuggets, 112-98, to snap a four-game losing streak.
"Tonight some offensive opportunities were presented to me, and I took advantage of them," Vaughn said. "The most important thing is we got the win."
Atlanta entered the game averaging just 90.9 points per contest but exploded with its highest point total of the season, racing past Denver, which came in fourth in the NBA at 97.9 points per game.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 22 points while Jason Terry added 20 and 11 assists for the Hawks.
"I thought it was a fun game, up and down," Hawks coach Terry Stotts said. "Fifty-seven points in the first half was good to see. Jacque Vaughn was terrific and he had it going tonight."
Voshon Lenard scored 25 points and Andre Miller and Earl Boykins each added 17 for Denver, which lost its second straight game. Rookie Carmelo Anthony scored just 13 points on 5-of-20 shooting as he was harassed by Hawks rookie forward Boris Diaw.
"Diaw played tough defense, I'll give him props," Anthony said. "I just can't hit no shots. Just one of them nights, I'll pick it back up. All great players pick it back up."
Denver has lost 14 straight games in Atlanta since its last win December 10, 1988, when Anthony was 4 years old.
"Once again, we were outhustled," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We were selfish, both offensively and defensively. Pretty much every phase of the game, and that's about it. We have to understand this - we've had a nice start, that's all it is."
Anthony's layup with 1:53 left in the second period gave Denver a 55-53 lead. But Atlanta responded with a 23-2 spurt, bridging the second and third quarters, to build a 76-57 lead with 6:30 left. Theo Ratliff scored nine of his 12 points during the run.
"It's just something I've been telling the guys," Ratliff said. "When I duck in there, make sure that you take that look. I think they did a good job."
Starting shooting guard Stephen Jackson was suspended by the Hawks for conduct detrimental from the team. Rookie Travis Hansen replaced Jackson in the lineup and scored two points in his first career start.
Jackson, signed as a free agent in the offseason after winning a championship with the San Antonio Spurs, will be able to return Wednesday against Memphis.
The Hawks rallied to take a 26-24 lead into the second quarter but still appeared a bit sluggish. Vaughn got them going, scoring 11 points in the quarter.
"My first shot was a lefthanded layup," Vaughn said. "After that I took what the defense gave me. The first shot felt good. The second one felt good and then every one after that felt good."
Boykins topped Vaughn's second quarter performance with 12 off the bench in the period but it wasn't enough.
Atlanta dominated in the paint, outscoring Denver, 68-36. The Hawks also got 23 points off 20 turnovers.
"We're not good enough to just show up," Bzdelik said. "Who do we think we are? Right now, we thing we're something or somebody special, so we're entitled. We're not entitled to jack."
NBA legends Magic Johnson and Dominique Wilkins sat courtside. Diaw idolizes Johnson and wears No. 32 in his honor. He had seven points and seven rebounds.
