The Hawks let a national audience in on their fun.
Why not? Atlanta has enjoyed this improbable run of success.
Once again, the Hawks used a strong close of the first half that propelled them to a 113-102 victory over the Nets Wednesday night in an ESPN game. The Hawks have won 17 straight and 31 out of 33 games on their remarkable ride. The 17-game run is tied for the 14th longest winning streak in NBA history.
The Hawks (38-8, 21-3 home) matched last season’s win total with two and a half months and 36 games still remaining.
“They don’t get to see us much,” Al Horford said. “This was a good game.”
Paul Millsap led the six double-digit scorers and three double-double performers for Hawks with a game-high 28 points and 15 rebounds. The Hawks also got double-doubles from Horford with 20 points and 10 rebounds and Jeff Teague with 13 points and 11 assists. In addition, Kyle Korver (17 points), Dennis Schroder (13) and DeMarre Carroll (12) scored in double figures.
It was quite a showcase on the eve of the release reserves for next month’s NBA All-Star Game. The Hawks figure to have three, and possibly four, players join their coaching staff as Eastern Conference representatives.
“That would be great coming from last year where it was a struggle to get one,” Teague said. “For them to even mention four guys on our team to be All-Stars, that’s big. Guys have been working hard and it’s paying off.”
The Hawks opened a double-digit lead in the second quarter and that meant near certain victory. Atlanta has opened a lead of 10 or more points in all 17 games of their current win streak and improved to 33-1 this season with a lead that big at any point during the game. The average margin of victory during the 17-game win streak is 12 points.
Millsap scored his 28 points by shooting 5 of 9 from the field and 15 of 16 from the free throw line, for a career-high in makes. He became the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 28 points on five or fewer field goals while shooting 50 percent or better, joining Paul Pierce, Chauncey Billups and Jeff Ruland.
“Just being aggressive,” Millsap said of his success. “They are a lot bigger than us. Their 4’s and 5’s are 7-feet and over. I was just using my quickness to try to get around him, try to draw a few fouls and, if not, try to make the right play.”
The Nets (18-27) lost for the ninth time in the past 10 games. Their struggles continued without starting point guard Deron Williams, out with a fractured rib. Former Hawk Joe Johnson returned to his old home and finished with 26 points. The Nets have lost three straight to the Hawks, including twice this season.
The Hawks started with some sloppy play as they committed seven of their 13 turnovers in the first quarter. However, they had another strong close to the first half to break open a back-and-forth game. They used a 21-9 run to end the second quarter to turn a one-point deficit into a 64-53 halftime advantage. Carroll and Millsap ended the run with back-to-back 3-pointers. The Hawks were a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line during the run.
The Nets were 2 of 12 from the field with two turnovers to close the second quarter.
Millsap had his team-leading 11th double-double of the season by halftime with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
“It’s something we talk a lot about is finishing quarters,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think the second quarter, there has been a good number of nights we are able to make a good push before halftime. It usually starts with our defense but I thought Paul (Millsap) was great on the offensive boards to finish the first half. He got us multiple possessions.
The Hawks, who have not lost in January, set the franchise record for wins in a month. They improved to 5-0 on their current seven-game homestand. They next host the Trail Blazers on Friday.
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