Another close game for the Hawks.
Another loss as they failed to execute down the stretch.
The Bulls pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 91-84 victory at the United Center Saturday night.
The Hawks tied the game, 67-67, early in the fourth quarter on a three-point play by Mike Scott. The Bulls took advantage of Hawks’ turnovers and built a five-point cushion.
Each time the Hawks would get close they were stymied by a possession with a turnover, poor execution or offensive foul.
With less than four minutes left, Kyle Korver hit what appeared to be a 3-pointer to pull the Hawks within two points, 84-82. However, the play was reviewed during a timeout and ruled a shot-clock violation. Instead the Hawks were faced with a five-point deficit.
Two more Bulls baskets and the Hawks trailed by nine and they could not recover.
The Hawks (18-16) have lost two straight and seven of eight road games. They have dropped three straight to the Bulls and five in a row in Chicago.
Paul Millsap led the Hawks with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jeff Teague added 16 points. Kyle Korver extended his NBA-record streak to 103 games with a 3-pointer.
The Bulls (14-18) have won two straight. They were led by Mike Dunleavy off the bench with 11 fourth-quarter points. Luol Deng added 15 points as six Bulls scored in double-figures.
The Hawks held one lead at 7-5. At least it wasn’t the nightmare trip to Chicago last January.
In the Hawks’ last game at the United Center, the Bulls held them to franchise-low 58 points and .293 shooting percentage. The total included a 20-point first half, tied for the second-fewest points allowed in a first half in NBA history.
The Bulls took a 50-45 lead at halftime after leading by as many as 10 points in each of the first and second quarters. The Hawks narrowed their deficit to two points with a Korver corner 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left. However, Deng threw up a half-court prayer that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded.
The Hawks got as close as a one in the third quarter and had a couple of chances to take the lead back but couldn’t connect. The Bulls took a 67-64 lead into the final quarter.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was concerned with the Bulls even has they played without Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer.
“With or without Derrick their defense is so good,” Budenholzer said before the game. “Defensively, we have to find a way to match their intensity, their physicality and find a way to score. Offensively, they are going to execute. They are going to set screens. They are going to cut hard. They really play hard on both ends.”
The Hawks conclude at two-game road trip at the Nets Monday.
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