John Collins scored a career-high 30 points and reserves Vince Carter and DeAndre' Bembry fueled a third-quarter rally that helped the Hawks beat the Denver Nuggets 106-98 on Saturday night at State Farm Arena.
The Hawks (6-20) snapped a four-game losing streak. Collins also had 12 rebounds and five assists.
The Hawks lost 138-93 at Denver on Nov. 15, and the Nuggets also controlled Saturday night's game early on. But they faded in the finale of a five-game trip.
Nikola Jokic had 24 points and 11 rebounds, but Denver (17-9) dropped games on back-to-back nights for the first time all season after sweeping the first three situations. Juancho Hernangomez finished with 17 points and 10 boards.
Carter scored 11 of his 13 points in the third, and the Hawks outscored the Nuggets 35-21 to take an 86-77 lead into the fourth.
Former Hawk Paul Millsap, now with the Nuggets, was held out after he fractured his right big toe in Friday's loss. High-scoring Denver guards Will Barton (right hip/core) and Gary Harris (right hip) also were out.
Mason Plumlee scored six points for the Nuggets but missed the chance to play against his brother Miles, whose sore knee kept him out of action for the Hawks.
Hawks guard Jeremy Lin was sidelined by a lower back strain and forward Taurean Prince (left ankle sprain) and Omari Spellman (right hip) also were out.
The Hawks visit the Mavericks on Wednesday.
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