The Hawks got Dwight Howard back – and then lost him again.
And then they lost a game.
The center was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Hawks’ 100-96 loss to the Hornets Friday night at the Spectrum Center. The loss snapped the Hawks’ six-game win streak.
Howard was called for a Flagrant Foul 2 when he hit Cody Zeller with an elbow fighting for a rebound with 5:38 remaining. The Hawks were leading 89-86 at the time of the infraction. The Hornets went on a 9-0 run, including seven straight points from Kemba Walker. The Hawks had controlled Walker for much of the game but not down the stretch with the Hornets crowed in a frenzy.
Round One to the Hornets.
In a battle of the early favorites to compete for the Southeast Division title, the Hornets pulled the game out late after facing a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit.
The Hawks (9-3) were led by Paul Millsap with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Howard finished with 10 points and 18 rebounds before his ejection. Kent Bazemore added 19 points.
The Hornets (8-3) were led by Nicolas Batum with a game-high 24 points. Zeller had 23 points and Walker finished with 21 points.
The Hawks got within a point, 95-94, with 1:18 remaining on a 3-pointer from Kyle Korver. However, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist converted a three-point play to follow. After two Bazemore made free throws, Zeller scored and was fouled on a drive to the basket. He missed the free throw but the Hornets got the rebound and ran more clock. The Hawks ran out of time.
Howard sat out the Hawks’ previous game with a left quad contusion.
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