Mavs Lose To Hawks
ATLANTA — Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was not aware that point guard Jeff Teague was only two points shy of matching his career high when he removed him from the game on Monday.
“I did not know that, but I’m sure he’ll let me know,” Budenholzer said with a laugh.
The mood in the locker room was a lot lighter for Atlanta as Teague’s season-high 32 points helped the Hawks end a three-game losing streak with a 112-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
Teague shot 12-for-15 from the field, posting a season-best total for field goals made, and made a career-high five 3-pointers. Teague added eight assists and five rebounds.
“Jeff set the tone, both shooting when he’s open and letting it fly,” Budenholzer said.
Atlanta (28-22) swept the two-game series with Dallas and beat the Mavericks for the sixth consecutive meeting. The Hawks, who had lost five of their previous six games, barely resembled the team that was beaten by the Miami Heat by 18 points on Sunday.
The Hawks also got 16 points from guard Kyle Korver, who sank four 3-pointers; 14 points from guard Dennis Schroder and 10 points from center Al Horford.
“This was a very much needed win,” Korver said. “We just need a few games in a row to get our confidence started again and to come out and shoot the ball well.”
Forward Chandler Parsons led Dallas (28-23) with 19 points, and he
added 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Forward Dirk Nowitzki was 10-for-11 from the foul line and scored 18 points. Point guard J.J. Barea had 15 points and four assists, and guard Raymond Felton scored 13. Former Hawks center Zaza Pachulia had a game-high 13 rebounds.
“By and large they outplayed us,” said Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. “I thought (Atlanta) was pretty desperate tonight and we didn’t match it.”
Both teams started slowly, each missing its first five shots. Atlanta found the range, particularly Korver, who was 3-for-3 on 3-pointers and helped the Hawks shoot 52.9 percent, grab the momentum and take a 27-15 first-quarter lead. It was the lowest first-quarter total scored by an Atlanta opponent this season.
“We had some shots early, they didn’t go in, and that may have taken some of the steam out of us,” Carlisle said.
Dallas never got its offense started in the period, shooting 21.1 percent, and it lost guard Deron Williams with a right hip injury with 5:42 remaining. Williams tried to return early in the second quarter but played only a minute before exiting for the remainder of the game. He finished 0-for-5 from the field and failed to score.
“I think it was a hip-to-hip collision on the drive,” Carlisle said. “He was unable to return. I don’t know anything about a timetable for his return. But I’m concerned.”
Atlanta led by as many as 16 points in the second quarter, the last time at 47-31 with 3:15 left in the half. Dallas responded with an 11-0 run, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers by Barea and guard Wesley Matthews, and cut the lead to five. Teague scored 12 points in the period and Atlanta led 53-46 at halftime.
Teague took over in the third period and scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers. The Hawks withstood a charge by the Mavs, who cut the lead to 55-51. Atlanta reclaimed a double-digit lead when Korver made a 3-pointer with 7:15 left in the period to complete a 13-6 run and make it 68-57. The Hawks led 86-73 after the third quarter.
Dallas never got closer than nine points in the fourth quarter.
“Defensively the energy was in a good place and offensively was one of the better games, for sure, in a little while,” Budenholzer said. “It was a good win for us to come back tonight and play like we did on both ends of the court.”
