So it continues.
The Hawks picked up where they left off against the Nets during the regular season with another victory. Yet, this one came in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. The Hawks led by as many as 16 points and held on for a 99-92 opening victory Sunday at Philips Arena.
The top-seeded Hawks swept all four regular-season games against the eighth-seeded Nets. Make it five in a row.
“We just want to keep it going,” Kyle Korver said of the Hawks’ success over the Nets.
Korver led the Hawks with a game-high 21 points, including five 3-pointers. DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Teague each had 17 points. Dennis Schroder (13) and Al Horford (10) were the other double-digit scorers. Horford briefly left the game in the fourth quarter after dislocating the pinkie finger on his right hand. The digit was not fractured and he returned to the game after getting taped. Horford had a double-double with 10 rebounds.
Teague scored the final six points for the Hawks, including the last four from the free-throw line, after the Nets had closed to within five points, 97-92 with 55 seconds left.
Paul Millsap continued to struggle from the floor in his second game back from an injured right shoulder. He was 2 of 11 from the field for six points. In the last two games he is 4 of 20 from the field.
“There is no concern about Paul and his shoulder,” Budenholzer said. “He impacts the game so many different ways. I know he probably doesn’t have very many games like that but it happens to everybody. His activity, hands, steals, decision making, rebounding. Unless he is hiding something, I think Paul is fine.”
Even with Millsap struggles, the Hawks controlled the game throughout. The Hawks led throughout the game, only trailing 2-0 after the Nets scored the opening basket. They led by 12 points after the first, 10 points after second and 12 after the third quarter.
“This is what we’ve done all year,” Korver said of Millsap’s struggles. “We are not just one person on this team. We don’t play hero ball. We got out there and play as a unit. There are nights when guys don’t shoot the ball as well as they would like to. The reality is Paul is just finding his rhythm a little bit. And he will.”
Joe Johnson, who was booed every time he touched the ball, and Brook Lopez each finished with 17 points for the Nets. Lopez took just seven field goal attempts.
“I told the team that if you don’t believe you can play in this series, you should leave now,” Nets coach Lionel Hollins said. “I have no problem with our effort.”
The Hawks forced the Nets into 17 turnovers for the game. It was a point of emphasis for the Nets coming into the game but they surrendered 24 points off the miscues.
The Hawks led by as many as 16 points in the first half and took a 55-45 lead into intermission. The Hawks had a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter. They had eight assists on 11 field goals and one turnover. By stark contrast, the Nets had zero assists on eight field goals and six turnovers that led to 11 points. By the half, the Hawks forced 11 turnovers.
The Nets made a 9-0 run early in the third quarter and pulled to within three points at 57-54. The Hawks roared back immediately with a 17-4 run to regain their 16-point lead and took the 12-point advantage into the final quarter.
The Nets held a 47-39 rebound advantage, including getting 12 on the offensive boards. Both Lopez (14) and Thaddeus Young (10) had double-digit boards.
“The defense was great,” Carroll said. “It was just the second chances. Us guards have to commit and help on Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young and try to get some of those rebounds. Other than that, we were getting the stops we needed. They were just getting second-chance points. If we can do that, I think we can come out and win this series.”
The series continues with Game 2 Wednesday night.
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