The Hawks gained a measure of revenge against the Knicks.
Three days after losing on their home court, the Hawks took a 110-90 victory in Madison Square Garden Saturday night. The win snaps a five-game losing streak to the Knicks.
The Hawks have scored at least 100 points in all but one game this season. The effort was aided greatly by the play of the bench.
The Hawks (6-4) used a 14-2 fourth-quarter run to take a 17-point advantage, 98-81, with just over four minutes remaining. Kyle Korver converted a four-point play as part of the run.
And the Hawks didn’t let up.
They pushed with lead to 20 points with a three-point play by DeMarre Carroll with 3:20 remaining.
Paul Millsap returned to the starting lineup with a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Jeff Teague (16 points), Korver (15), Shelvin Mack (12), Al Horford (12), Mike Scott (11), Gustavo Ayon (10) and Carroll (10) were the other double-digit scorers.
The Knicks (3-6) were led by Carmelo Anthony with 23 points.
Korver extended his 3-point streak to 83 games, six shy of tying NBA all-time record held by Dana Barros. Korver missed his first three attempts but connected with 4:06 left in the first quarter.
The Hawks took a 54-47 lead into the intermission after leading by as many as 12 points in the second quarter. The Hawks started the second quarter with a 12-1 run with all reserves –Mack, John Jenkins, Cartier Martin, Scott and Ayon on the floor. Ayon scored the first six points. The Knicks missed their first five shots in the period.
Ayon, who made his season debut Friday in a starting role, had six points, five rebounds, one assist and two steals in 10 first-half minutes.
“We will be using Gustavo,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. “It was great for him to play and show his activity, all the things that make Gustavo a great part of our team. To have him play his first game and have success, now we can find ways to use him.”
The Hawks took an 11-point lead, 80-69, into the fourth quarter. Scott drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to push the lead up to double-digits entering the final 12 minutes.
The Knicks gave the Hawks trouble with a switching defense in a win Wednesday at Philips Arena. Budenholzer was more concerned with the ball movement from his team in making an adjustment.
“There are lots of different ways to attack a switch or teams that use that,” Budenholzer said. “I think it wasn’t one of our best ball movement and people movement games. I think you always have to give the defense some credit and give the Knicks some credit. If it’s switching or trapping or whatever the defense is, we weren’t at our best. There are different ways to attack it and we need to be better if that is what they choose to do.”
The Hawks next play at the Heat Tuesday in a game that has been picked up by NBA TV.
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