No buzzer beater needed this time.
The Hawks failed to score for the first 6:53 of the fourth quarter and the Warriors took full advantage of the failure. The Hawks missed their first eight shots of the period and by the time they final scored they faced with a 20-point deficit.
The Warriors closed out the Hawks for a 111-97 victory Friday night at Oracle Arena.
The Hawks (26-34, 9-23 road) have lost five straight games and 13 of 14 overall. It was the ninth straight road loss for the Hawks, now 1-11 at Western Conference opponents. They last won away from home on Jan. 31 against the 76ers.
It was the Hawks’ fifth straight loss to the Warriors, who have swept the season series for the second straight year. The Warriors won in Atlanta earlier this season on an Andre Iguodala last-second shot.
The Warriors (39-24, 19-10 home) went on a 15-0 run between the third and fourth quarters to take control of the game. They took a 97-77 lead before the Hawks cut into the final margin.
It was already over.
Paul Millsap returned after missing the past five games with a right knee injury and led the Hawks with 16 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott added 14 points and Pero Antic added 10 points.
With 22 games remaining in the regular season, the free-falling Hawks still cling to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The kept a three-game lead over the Pistons.
David Lee led the Warriors with 18 points. Jermaine O’Neal added 17 points off the bench. Stephen Curry, who entered the game seventh in the NBA in scoring at 23.8 points per game, had 13 points.
The Hawks cut into a 16-point halftime deficit in the third quarter. They pulled to within four points, 74-70, on a basket by Pero Antic. The Warriors took an 85-77 lead into the final quarter.
The Warriors took a 66-52 lead into intermission after ending the second quarter on a 12-1 run. For the period, the Warriors outscored the Hawks 34-21 as they shot 62 percent. The Hawks shot just 35 percent.
Over the final 3:38 on the quarter, after a Jeff Teague 3-pointer made it 54-51, the Hawks missed their final six field goal attempts and had a turnover.
The Warriors lost starting guard Klay Thompson to a lower back strain in the first quarter. He did not return.
The Hawks five-game western trip continues Saturday against the Clippers. The finale will be Monday against the Jazz.
About the Author
