Another close game for the Hawks.
Another loss as they failed to execute down the stretch.
Chicago pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 91-84 victory over Atlanta at the United Center Saturday night.
The Hawks tied the game, 67-67, 48 seconds into 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.
How is this for a summation?
Kyle Korver hit what appeared to be a 3-pointer to pull the Hawks within two points, 84-82, with 4:18 remaining. After a Mike Dunleavy tip-in off an offensive rebound, two more storylines, DeMarre Carroll was called for an offensive foul attempting a 3-pointer. During an ensuing timeout, officials reviewed the Korver basket and ruled a shot-clock violation. The Hawks were left staring at a seven-point deficit.
“It takes away three points at the end of the game,” Korver said. “It’s a big deal. I should have shot it faster.”
Carroll said officials told him he kicked his legs out on his 3-point attempt to cause the whistle.
“I tried to explain that Joakim (Noah defending), every time I shoot, I can’t land flat,” Carroll said. “So I’m shooting trying to get myself space (to land).”
The Bulls added a Taj Gibson alley-oop dunk and the ensuing possession to increase the lead to nine points with 3:15 remaining. The Hawks 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.
“Our spacing at times needs to improve,” coach Mike Budenholzer said of his team’s executive issues. “Our ball movement at times needs to improve. It’s a lot of little things. I couldn’t say it’s one specific thing. I think we are going to learn how to play end of games together.”
The Bulls (14-18) have won two straight. They were led by Mike Dunleavy off the bench with 20 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Luol Deng added 15 points as six Bulls scored in double-figures. The Bulls held a 20-17 edge in rebounds and 18-14 edge in second-chance points. Time and again the Bulls converted tip-ins off their own missed shots.
“I think we really need to pay attention to detail, especially on the defensive end,” Carroll said. “They were crashing the offensive glass and being aggressive. We weren’t being aggressive. They made it a physical game and we just didn’t match their physicality.”
The Hawks held one lead, 7-5, three minutes into the game.
At least this 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.
The Hawks conclude at two-game road trip at the Nets Monday.
