There may be few sure things, but if you were to assemble people surprised to see DeMarre Carroll score a career-high 25 points Tuesday, it’s a guarantee that the Hawks’ small forward would not be in that group after Atlanta’s 107-104 win over the Clippers.
With the Hawks wallowing in a 13-point hole third quarter hole as the Clippers were playing to their considerable talent level in Philips Arena, Atlanta’s sixth-year forward took off and played beyond external expectations with 18 second-half points. He added 10 rebounds, as the Hawks won for the 14th time in 15 games.
No, he was not surprised after making a career-high 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.
“I believe in myself,” Carroll said. “I told you all last year I wanted to be the African-American Kyle Korver … I’ve got to keep working.”
Korver helped as well, scoring 14 points one 4-of-7 shooting from afar and winning a huge jump ball in the final seconds to help Atlanta (21-7) win its fifth straight game against a playoff-caliber opponent.
The Hawks have beaten the Bulls, Cavs, Rockets, Mavs and Clippers (19-10) consecutively.
Carroll’s numbers notwithstanding, this win was much like so many of Atlanta’s others: no player or players were over-powering, but many did many things.
The NBA’s top assist team banked 28 dimes, the 19th time they’ve shared the ball 25 or more times. Al Horford added 20 points, Paul Millsap pitched in 17, nine rebounds and a season-high-tying seven assists, and yet Atlanta had to pull this one out.
L.A. went on a 17-0 run in the second quarter to take a 47-40 lead, and would lead by seven at halftime. Atlanta committed nine of its 14 turnovers in the period.
Meanwhile, former Hawk Jamal Crawford scored eight of his 18 points in the period, Blake Griffin added six, and human pogo stick DeAndre Jordan – the NBA’s leading rebounder – scored six of his 15 and grabbed seven of his 22 rebounds.
Trailing 65-52, the Hawks scored on five straight possessions in the third quarter to begin climbing. Carroll owned the period.
After back-to-back jumpers by Horford, Carroll nailed consecutive 3-pointers, made two of three free throws after Jordan fouled him, stole a J.J. Redick pass, grabbed consecutive defensive rebounds and helped Atlanta close the quarter 25-14 to pull within 83-81.
He had 10 points in the period, and after Korver’s long ball gave Atlanta an 86-83 lead with 10:59 left in the game, the Hawks never trailed nor were tied again.
As the Hawks have grown into their personality, Carroll has grown his.
“When he’s making shots, and you have Kyle on the wing on the other side of the court, obviously they’ve got to keep track of him,” said Hawks head coach Mike Budhenholzer. “He can have a big impact … his offensive game has just continued to improve. Defensively, I think everybody can see he fills us with energy and a competitive spirit.”
Indeed, Carroll helped limit L.A. starting small forward Matt Barnes to 1-for-6 shooting (six points), and helped harass Crawford into 5-for-19.
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