ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks signed center Jason Collier for the rest of the season Sunday after he completed two 10-day contracts.

A 7-footer who played at Georgia Tech, Collier is averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in eight starts with the Hawks.

Atlanta is 24-49.

If you're Jason Terry, once the Hawks poster child for hope, how do you resist that urge? We're talking about that urge to stuff one of your extra-long sweat socks down your mouth to keep you from saying what you really believe about this mess.

The answer? You just tell the truth from your perspective, and Terry sees a mess.

"It's one thing to be optimistic, but then again, you have to be a realist at the same time," said Terry, the Hawks' fifth-year guard, struggling as much as his team. This time, he was just another guy behind the superior likes of Bob Sura, Chris Crawford and Jason Collier. He paused, adding, "It's just been a stressful year, man. I know my play hasn't been up to where my expectations are for myself. And then, with the team not doing well . . ."

He didn't have to finish.

It's a mess.

When Stephen Jackson scored a career-high 42 points against the Washington Wizards last week, it appeared that he was benefiting from an atrocious defense that yielded 138 points to the Hawks --- the most allowed in an NBA game this season. Jackson had never scored more than 30 points in his first 241 career games.

Then Jackson scored 39 against Seattle two games later and 36 in a 111-110 win against Dallas on Wednesday. In his past four games, Jackson is averaging 33.8 points and shooting 48.3 percent.

Jackson set a record for most points by a Mavericks opponent in a half with 31. He was 12-for-16 from the floor, including 3-for-4 on 3-pointers.

"A lot of my shots were wide open. We had that drive and kick working, and we were able to kill them with it," he said.

After three trades last month shook up the Hawks' roster, Jackson has emerged as their primary scorer. He becomes a free agent at the end of the season."I'm playing for a lot right now," he said.

ATLANTA (AP) Atlanta Hawks center Joel Przybilla will miss four to six weeks after an MRI showed swelling in his left knee.

Przybilla will likely be placed on the injured list before the Hawks' face Toronto on Sunday.

He started and played 12 minutes before leaving and not returning in the Hawks' 138-124 victory Friday over the Washington Wizards.

Acquired in a three-team trade from Milwaukee on Feb. 15, Przybilla averaged 4.0 points and 8.4 rebounds in 12 games for Atlanta.

ATLANTA (AP) The NBA approved the $250 million sale of the Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers on Friday, but the NHL must still sign off on the deal before the new ownership group can take over.

The NBA announced that its board of directors agreed to the sale to a nine-man group headed by Boston businessman Steve Belkin, who was rebuffed in his bid for an expansion franchise in Charlotte.

The sale, which also includes Philips Arena, has dragged on for nearly a year. Dallas auto dealer David McDavid began exclusive talks to buy the teams last April, but could never close the deal.

With McDavid still believing his offer would work out, Time Warner suddenly changed course. The media conglomerate announced its was selling the teams to a group headed by Belkin, founder and chairman of the Boston-based marketing and investing company Trans National Group.

The partnership _ known as Atlanta Spirit LLC _ includes Beau Turner, youngest son of former Hawks owner Ted Turner, and Turner's son-in-law, attorney Rutherford Seydel.

Ted Turner owned the Hawks and baseball's Atlanta Braves, but lost control of the teams through a series of corporate mergers. The Thrashers joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1999.

Time Warner decided to unload the Hawks and Thrashers to help relieve some of its massive debt. The company has backed off in its efforts to sell the Braves.

Turner Broadcasting, a Time Warner subsidiary, will retain 15 percent ownership of Atlanta Spirit, but will have no say in operations. The rest of the group is split into thirds.

One section is Atlanta-based and includes carpet company owner Bud Seretean, longtime Hawks executive Michael Gearon, his son, Michael Gearon Jr., Seydel and Beau Turner.

One third of the group is Washington-based and includes two former minority owners of the NHL's Washington's Capitals, Bruce Levenson and Ed Peskowitz, along with Todd Foreman.

Belkin owns a third by himself. He will concentrate on the Hawks, while the Washington-based group _ with its hockey experience _ and Seydel will work with the Thrashers.

Peskowitz will be primarily responsible for Philips Arena, both as a sports and concert venue.