What they said after the Hawks’ 118-107 win over the Celtics Saturday:
"Obviously, a big win. A pretty high-level NBA game. To see offense like that and shot-making like that from both teams, we certainly didn't expect it to be like that, 71-67 at half. I think a credit to our players to find a way to pick up our defense, find a way to get stops, hold them to a 20-point third quarter and 16-point fourth quarter. After that first half, it was a heck of a defensive effort. Paul Millsap with a monster game. He was special. Other guys stepped up down the stretch. They are very good. To beat them in a game like this at home, it's a very good test for us. We have to keep building." – Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer's opening statement
"Sometimes there are subtle changes. Every team does things different in pick-and-rolls. You try to have a full things you can use. To be honest with you, we looked at some clips at halftime. There were some basic breakdowns and some amazing shot-making. We just thought if we could reduce our mistakes and not give them some of those open looks and some of those opportunities. If they are making tough shots then you tip your hat to them. But there were some basic, fundamental mistakes, for sure on our end." – Budenholzer on defensive changes in second half
"Just overall, it was a pretty special game by him. That third quarter, we went down by 12. I think he came out and had a two-point bucket in front of our bench, Kyle (Korver) hits a 3 and Paul hits a trail 3. It goes from 12 to four. We rode him pretty long in the third quarter. I thought on the boards he was great, his hands, his activity. A great all-around game by Paul." – Budenholzer on Paul Millsap
"I just think we made some adjustments, but more than anything we just picked up our energy. We were more focused and kept doing what we were doing. The first half, they shot lights out. They were great." – Al Horford on defensive changes in second half
"Both teams shot the ball really well in the first half. It seemed like everything everybody was throwing up was going in. They were in a great rhythm. They have a lot of great athletes and explosive players. We weren't playing terrible, we just didn't have our edge. In the second half, coach challenged us at halftime, we knew what was at stake. We came out with more focus and intensity and played a much better half." – Kyle Korver on win
"I think our team took it personally. They are a good basketball team. The first half we had trouble guarding them. The second half we changed up a few things, got after it and was able to limit their points." – Paul Millsap on win
"I just tried to make a play on the ball. I got a chance to get my hands on it and tried to finish strong through the contact." – Jeff Teague on his fourth-quarter three-point play
"I kind of got knocked into the table (after the 3-pointer). He threw a bounce pass, I came in and stole it. It was a heck of a play. It's my first time ever doing something like that. It's special." – Kent Bazemore on scoring five points in 12 seconds
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