Eight straight losses are bad enough, but dropping six in a row at home was even more painful for the struggling Atlanta Hawks. Thanks to one of their top defensive performances, both streaks ended with the Hawks' 86-74 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.

Joe Johnson scored 27 points and Zaza Pachulia added 22 as Atlanta won for the first time since a Dec. 15 victory at Memphis. The Hawks won at home for the first time since beating Charlotte on Nov. 29.

Some Hawks players were startled to be reminded it had been so long since they had won at Philips Arena, where they are 5-9. Boston and Philadelphia are the only NBA teams with fewer home wins.

"It was right at the beginning of the year," said Josh Childress of the last home win. "That's a long time."

The overall eight-game skid was Atlanta's longest since losing the first nine games of the 2005-06 season. The Hawks had losing streaks of 13 and 14 games in their 13-win season in 2004-05.

Only four players scored in double figures in the low-scoring game. Elton Brand led the Clippers with 26 points, including 12 in the first quarter, and Tim Thomas had 14.

Brand and Thomas were the only Clippers players to score in the final period. The rest of the team was 0-for-8 from the field in the period, when the Clippers were outscored 22-15.

The 74 points allowed set a new season low for Atlanta. The Hawks had nine steals, including five by Speedy Claxton. The Clippers' 19 turnovers led to 16 points for the Hawks.

"Our defense was solid from beginning to end," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. "We put ourselves in position to win a basketball game thanks to our defense."

Brand made 10 of 17 shots but Thomas was only 5-for-14 from the field and the Clippers shot 40 percent.

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