This might be the defensive effort Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has been harping about all season.
At least for one half, anyway.
The Hawks limited the Pelicans to 28 first-half points, on 29.7 percent shooting, en route to a 100-91 victory Friday night at Philips Arena. The defensive effort through the first two quarters represented 10 less points than the previous season-low allowed to an opponent, 38 by the Knicks.
The Hawks also limited Pelicans All-Star forward Anthony Davis to just 14 points on 5 of 14 shooting. He added 11 rebounds.
“Happy with the defensive effort in the first half,” Budenholzer said. “It gave us some separation and allowed us to play with a lead. … We found a way to get a good win against a good team.”
The Hawks (8-6) won for the seventh time in the past 10 games. They snapped a three-game losing streak to the Pelicans.
The Hawks are 6-2 at home this season.
Jeff Teague continued his stellar play over the past five games. He led the Hawks with a game-high 26 points. The Hawks also got double-figure scoring from DeMarre Carroll (season-high 19 points), Paul Millsap (13), Kyle Korver (11), Dennis Schroder (11) and Al Horford (10). Horford also added 10 rebounds for a double-double.
The Pelicans (7-7) dropped their second straight decision. Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson led the team with 20 points apiece.
The Hawks led by as many as 13 points in the first half, including the 41-28 advantage at intermission. They closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run.
The Pelicans’ 15 first-quarter, 13-second quarter and 28 first-half points were all season lows by an opponent this season. The Hawks held the Spurs to 15 points, the Cavaliers to 18 points and the Knicks to 38 points.
The Pelicans shot just 11 of 37 (29.7 percent), including 1 of 10 from 3-point range, in the first half. Davis, who entered as the NBA’s second-leading scorer at 25.4 points per game, was held to just five first-half points. He had two more rebounds than points.
Teague led the Hawks with 10 first-half points. It marked the 11th time in 14 games this season the point guard has scored in double figures.
The Hawks led by as many as 16 points.
The Hawks return to action Saturday by hosting the Hornets.
