Jazz 'smacks around' Hawks

SALT LAKE CITY - Jerry Sloan won his 800th game as the coach of the Utah Jazz but he certainly hasn't mellowed.

``We would really like to play in a tuxedo where nobody could tough us. But, of course, the other teams come out and smack you upside the head to see if you have any toughness,'' Sloan said.

The Jazz, led by DeShawn Stevenson's 17 points, were doing most of the smacking on Saturday night as they beat the woeful Atlanta Hawks 92-71.

Sloan returned to the bench after missing Utah's last two games to be with his wife, Bobbye, who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Sloan's career record improved to 894-538 as the Jazz took control in the third quarter and coasted to their fourth straight win at home. But Sloan was still not satisfied in watching the youngest team he's ever coached.

``Some of these young guys got to learn that to be good they've got to work. They need to learn how to compete, learn how to stay focused so they have a chance to be good and get better,'' Sloan said.

Hired in 1988 by the Jazz, Sloan is the longest-tenured head coach with the same team in professional sports. He has the sixth-best winning percentage in NBA history (62.7 percent).

``Coach was on us from the get-go. When you have a coach like Jerry Sloan, he won't let you have a letdown,'' said Stevenson, who made 8-of-11 shots.

Carlos Arroyo scored 14 points and Andrei Kirilenko and Aleksandar Pavlovic each added 12 as Utah improved to 15-3 at home.

``Utah is a good team: well-coached, very disciplined and play the same way every time,'' said Jason Terry, who scored 9 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

The Hawks stayed close for a half, but Stevenson made four jumpers and had a dunk in a 15-6 run that gave Utah a 64-45 lead with 5:24 left in the third quarter.

``I guess today was my day because I kept getting the ball and I kept shooting,'' Stevenson said.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Dion Glover both had 15 points to lead the Hawks, who went 1-4 on their five-game Western Conference road swing. The Hawks, who have lost their last three games by a combined 83 points, lost their 10th consecutive road game against the Jazz.

``Right now, we're frustrated. We've been on the road a long time,'' Atlanta coach Terry Stotts said. ``They played well and I think we hit a wall.''

A night after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 113-67, the Hawks weren't much better against the Jazz as they shot just 39 percent and trailed by as many as 36 points.

``When things are this bad, you have to look at yourself as a team, and look at yourself as an individual. We need to realize we can do better and just commit to that,'' Abdur-Rahim said.

In an effort to keep the score respectable, the Hawks went with their starters in the fourth quarter until Stephen Jackson yelled at the referees and was ejected after two technical fouls.

On the other side, the Jazz keep playing Sloan's brand of unselfish basketball.

``They get a lot of contributions from different people. I think Coach Sloan has done a great job with this roster. They play team basketball and they make each other better,'' Stotts said.

NOTES: Matt Harpring, who did not dress for the fourth straight game, is facing surgery for his strained right knee. ... Theo Ratliff has blocked a shot in each of last 28 games. ... In the third quarter, Abdur-Rahim showed his frustration by knocking the ball from Pavlovic long after a play ended, earning him a technical foul. ... Michael Ruffin started his first home game with the Jazz after missing the team's first 34 games with an abdominal strain.