Tag: Atlanta Hawks

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NBA (Basketball)

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets defeat the Hawks

Denver Nuggets (NBA)

Nikola Jokic scored 48 points to help the Denver Nuggets beat the Atlanta Hawks 141-111 on Sunday, ending the Hawks’ six-game winning streak.

Jokic made 17 of 29 shots, adding 14 rebounds and eight assists. After scoring a career-high 56 points against the Washington Wizards on Saturday, Jokic set the tone by scoring 13 points in the first quarter and 25 points by halftime.

The Nuggets also got 26 points and seven rebounds from Michael Porter Jr. and 17 points with eight rebounds from Christian Braun. Denver has now won four straight games against Atlanta.

The top scorers for Atlanta were De’Andre Hunter, who scored 20 points, and Dyson Daniels, who had 18 points and five steals. Trae Young was held to 15 points and made only one point from four shots in the first half. Young had recently posted 31 points and 20 assists against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Trae Young takes the ball forward

The Nuggets snapped a two-game losing streak and bounced back from a tough loss to Washington, a team that had lost 16 games in a row. Unlike that game, where the Nuggets trailed by as many as 15 points, Denver took control early against the short-handed Hawks and led 38-23 after the first quarter.

Atlanta made a run to cut Denver’s lead to 11 points in the second quarter, mainly when Jokic was off the floor. The Nuggets finished the half strong, with Jokic hitting a 3-pointer from just inside half court with 1.1 seconds left, giving Denver a 71-48 lead at halftime.

The Nuggets led by as many as 30 points in the third quarter and took a 106-84 lead into the fourth.

The Hawks had a scare when Hunter was hit with an elbow to the head midway through the third quarter. He was taken to the locker room for examination but returned to the game later.

Atlanta played without two key players, second-leading scorer Jalen Johnson (right shoulder soreness) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (left quad contusion).

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Key players shine as the Nuggets take on the red-hot Hawks

Nikola Jokic takes the ball forward

The Atlanta Hawks will try to extend their winning streak to seven games on Sunday evening when they face the Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic.

Atlanta won its sixth straight game, the longest active winning streak in the Eastern Conference, by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 134-132 in overtime on Friday.

The Nuggets have lost their last two games, including a surprising 122-113 loss to Washington on Saturday that ended the Wizards’ 16-game losing streak. Jokic scored a career-high 56 points — 23 of which came in the third quarter — and added 16 rebounds and eight assists.

Last season, the Nuggets won both games against Atlanta, defeating them 129-122 in Atlanta and winning 142-110 in Denver. Denver has won the last three matchups between the teams.

In Atlanta’s win over the Lakers, Trae Young had a historic performance. He made the game-winning shot, scored 31 points, and recorded 20 assists, becoming the first player in franchise history to have at least 30 points and 20 assists in a game. He also grabbed four rebounds and had two steals.

“My confidence comes from the work that I’ve put in over the years,” Young said. “I’ve put so much work in and so many hours over the years that a few missed shots, even in the last few games, isn’t going to stop me from shooting the next 3.”

Trae Young takes the ball forward

During their six-game winning streak, the Hawks are averaging 122.7 points, almost five more than their season average of 117.3. Young is averaging 21.2 points and a league-leading 12.3 assists per game, with Jalen Johnson contributing 19.8 points and 9.9 rebounds, and De’Andre Hunter averaging 19.2 points.

“I’m proud of the way we’re playing, but not because of any comparison to other teams or any past success,” said Atlanta coach Quin Snyder. “These guys are their own team. For them to continue to build an identity that they can feel and replicate, I think that’s the main thing.”

Jokic is averaging 31.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 10.3 assists this season. However, his numbers are lower against the Hawks. In 18 career games against Atlanta, he averages 18.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.

On Saturday, Denver was down by as many as 15 points in the third quarter and could not recover.

“I don’t care if a team is 20-3 like Cleveland or has lost 16 in a row like Washington, if you wait to start playing hard in this league, what happened tonight is exactly what’s going to happen to you,” said Denver coach Michael Malone. “We’ve seen this happen time and time again.”

After a five-game winning streak in early November, the Nuggets have gone 4-7. Malone pointed out that the team’s issues are mainly on defense.

“We have a lot of issues, mainly on the defensive end of the floor,” he said. “We play a team on (Sunday) that’s won six in a row. That’s one thing about the NBA, no one feels sorry for you, and we have to all realize that we all have to start participating in our own recovery. No one is going to give you an olive branch.”

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NBA (Basketball)

Trae Young’s clutch 3-pointer in overtime propels Hawks to victory over Lakers

Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers

Trae Young made a crucial 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left in overtime, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 134-132 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Young finished with 31 points and 20 assists, while De’Andre Hunter scored 26 points off the bench to help the Hawks win their sixth straight game. Bogdan Bogdanovic added 20 points, Onyeka Okongwu had 15, and Jalen Johnson contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds. Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels each scored 11 points.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 39 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. Anthony Davis recorded 38 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Dalton Knecht had 14 points, and Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent each scored 12. The Lakers lost their third consecutive game.

With 1:44 left in overtime, Vincent’s 3-pointer gave the Lakers a 130-127 lead. Daniels and Davis exchanged baskets, then Johnson made two free throws to bring Atlanta within one point with 36.9 seconds remaining. After Young’s game-winning 3-pointer, James missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

Trae Young celebrates after scoring

The game was tied at 64 at halftime. Young started the third quarter with a layup, then Knecht’s 3-pointer sparked a 13-0 run for the Lakers. Trailing by nine points, the Hawks responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Young to cut the deficit to one. After Knecht’s layup gave the Lakers an 85-82 lead, Young hit a floater and a 3-pointer to put Atlanta back in front.

Russell made a deep 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 97-92 lead with 29.4 seconds left in the third, but Young’s free throws narrowed the Hawks’ deficit to three points heading into the final quarter.

Atlanta started the fourth quarter with an 11-5 run, including a 3-pointer from Bogdanovic to force a Lakers’ timeout at 7:58. After another 3-pointer from Bogdanovic put the Hawks ahead 108-104, Davis and James responded with key baskets to give the Lakers the lead at 4:12.

Davis’ dunk gave Los Angeles a 117-116 lead with 1:14 remaining, but Hunter answered with a 3-pointer. James’ layup with 12.9 seconds left tied the game, sending it into overtime.

After trailing 29-26 in the first quarter, the Hawks opened the second with a 12-5 run, including three consecutive baskets from Okongwu. Back-to-back baskets from Davis gave the Lakers a 61-59 lead with 51.3 seconds left in the half. Johnson’s floater tied the game at 64 by halftime.

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NBA (Basketball)

NBA roundup: Hot Hawks hand Bucks a setback

Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks

Jalen Johnson, who is from Wisconsin, scored 23 points, and De’Andre Hunter added 20 points to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 119-104, ending the Bucks’ seven-game winning streak.

The Hawks had balanced scoring with eight players scoring at least eight points. Clint Capela had 17 rebounds along with eight points, while Johnson grabbed 13 rebounds. This win marked the Hawks’ fifth consecutive victory.

Milwaukee committed 18 turnovers, and Atlanta dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 55 boards compared to the Bucks’ 40.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Bucks, and Damian Lillard added 25 points and five assists. The Bucks had the longest active win streak in the NBA before this loss.

Heat 134, Lakers 93

Tyler Herro scored 21 of his 31 points in the third quarter, leading Miami to a blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Miami set a team record with 42 assists and tied a record for 24 made 3-pointers. Jimmy Butler, who returned after missing a game due to a knee injury, contributed 17 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 29 points and eight assists, making 12 of 18 shots. However, Anthony Davis struggled, scoring only eight points on 3-for-14 shooting.

Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers

Nets 99, Pacers 90

Cameron Johnson scored 26 points, and Ben Simmons helped Brooklyn close out the game with a strong fourth-quarter run to beat Indiana.

Johnson returned after missing Brooklyn’s last game due to an ankle injury, hitting seven of the team’s 12 3-pointers. He also grabbed seven rebounds. Nic Claxton added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 17 points as they lost their eighth straight road game.

Celtics 130, Pistons 120

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 28 points and nine assists in a win over Detroit.

Kristaps Porzingis added 26 points and nine rebounds, while Sam Hauser scored 20 points, making 5 of 10 3-pointers. Payton Pritchard contributed 19 points, and Derrick White had 14 points and 11 assists. Al Horford also scored 14 points.

Cade Cunningham recorded 27 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds for Detroit, but the Pistons couldn’t overcome Boston’s offensive power. Tobias Harris added 27 points, and Malik Beasley scored 23 for Detroit, who shot 51.3% from beyond the arc.

Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons

Magic 106, 76ers 102

Franz Wagner scored 35 points to lead Orlando to a win over Philadelphia.

Wagner made 12 of 23 shots and went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. Jalen Suggs added 17 points, making 4 of 8 3-pointers. Despite shooting poorly from deep (4 of 21), Orlando won.

Rookie Jared McCain led the 76ers with 24 points. Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid and Paul George due to knee injuries. Orlando continued to play without Paolo Banchero, who is recovering from an oblique injury.

Timberwolves 108, Clippers 80

Julius Randle scored 16 of his 20 points in the first quarter, helping Minnesota extend their winning streak to three games with a dominant victory over Los Angeles.

Anthony Edwards added 16 points, and Josh Minott contributed 13. Jaden McDaniels and Mike Conley each scored 11. The Timberwolves bounced back after a rough four-game losing streak.

Bones Hyland scored 18 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 14 for the Clippers. Despite strong individual performances, the Clippers ended their nine-game home winning streak. Los Angeles has now lost three of their last 11 games.

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NBA (Basketball)

The well-rounded Hawks snap the Bucks’ winning streak

Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks

Jalen Johnson, from Wisconsin, scored 23 points and De’Andre Hunter added 20 to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 119-104 on the road, ending the Bucks’ seven-game win streak.

As usual, the Hawks got contributions from many players, with eight scoring at least eight points. Clint Capela had 17 rebounds and 8 points, while Johnson grabbed 13 rebounds.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Damian Lillard added 25 points and five assists.

The Bucks started strong, taking a lead of up to 10 points in the first quarter, but the Hawks quickly fought back.

Atlanta went on a 9-0 run to take a 3-point lead into the second quarter and kept up the momentum. They were ahead 70-59 at halftime.

Bogdanovic led Atlanta with 13 points, while Johnson had 12 by halftime. Antetokounmpo had 19 for Milwaukee, with nine of those coming from free throws.

The Hawks were strong in transition, scoring 26 fast-break points compared to Milwaukee’s 7. The Bucks also struggled with nine turnovers and missed 13 of their 21 three-point attempts.

In the third quarter, Atlanta built a lead as large as 20 points.

The Bucks fought back with a 12-0 run, including four straight 3-pointers, bringing the score within eight with 3:33 left in the third quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts in the 2nd half

However, the Bucks couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity. The Hawks quickly pushed their lead back to double digits and maintained it for the rest of the game.

Milwaukee had 18 turnovers, while Atlanta dominated the rebounding battle with 55 boards compared to the Bucks’ 40.

The Bucks’ seven-game win streak was the longest active streak in the NBA.

The two teams could meet again next Sunday in the NBA Cup, depending on how they perform in their Quarterfinal matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Bucks and Hawks are on strong runs following slow starts to the season

Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards

The Milwaukee Bucks will play the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, with both teams on strong winning streaks.

This game will be the second night of a back-to-back for the Bucks, who defeated the Detroit Pistons 128-107 in NBA Cup action on Tuesday. That win helped them finish 4-0 in the tournament and advance to the quarterfinals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 28 points on nearly perfect shooting, going 10-for-11, while also recording eight assists and seven rebounds. Damian Lillard added 27 points and five assists.

“It’s great — they put a tournament in front of us, and we want to win it. We said that early on,” said Bucks coach Doc Rivers. “We’re 4-0, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

The Bucks have won seven straight games and nine of their last 10 after starting the season 2-8. As a result of advancing in the NBA Cup, they will host the Orlando Magic in the quarterfinals next Tuesday.

The Hawks have also reached the quarterfinals and will face the New York Knicks in New York on Dec. 11.

Atlanta has won four games in a row, including a 124-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. With that win, the Hawks have reached a .500 record for the season.

De’Andre Hunter came off the bench to lead the Hawks with 22 points, but all nine players who played scored at least eight points, with seven players scoring in double digits.

Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets

“We had a lot of guys that didn’t shoot well, playing through that, that’s something we’ve talked about,” said Atlanta coach Quin Snyder. “It’s hard; there’s a natural tendency to be frustrated, but overcoming that is important. I feel we did that for the most part tonight.”

Trae Young leads the Hawks with an average of 20.9 points per game, while Jalen Johnson averages 20.0 points. Young also leads the NBA with 12.2 assists, and Johnson leads the Hawks with 9.8 rebounds per game.

Eight players on the Hawks are averaging double figures in scoring.

Antetokounmpo leads the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game, and he also averages 11.7 rebounds, which leads the Bucks. Lillard averages 7.6 assists, and Brook Lopez adds 2.4 blocked shots per game.

On the injury front, the Bucks were without MarJon Beauchamp (hamstring) and Khris Middleton (ankle) on Tuesday. Middleton has not played yet this season. The Bucks had not released an update on their injury status as of Wednesday morning.

For the Hawks, Young is listed as probable for Wednesday’s game due to right Achilles tendinitis, while Cody Zeller (personal) is out.

The all-time series between the Bucks and Hawks is almost tied, with Milwaukee holding a 119-117 lead.

The teams have split their last few seasons. Last year, Milwaukee won two of three games, and in 2022-23, they split 2-2. The Hawks won two of three in the 2021-22 season.

Wednesday’s game will be the first of four matchups between the teams this season. They will play again on Feb. 7 and March 4 in Atlanta, and March 30 in Milwaukee.

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NBA (Basketball)

De’Andre Hunter’s clutch scoring in the final moments leads the Hawks to a win over the Hornets

Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets

De’Andre Hunter scored two quick baskets within 10 seconds in the final minute, and Jalen Johnson added 20 points to help the Atlanta Hawks defeat the Charlotte Hornets 107-104 on Saturday night.

The Hawks managed to hold on after Charlotte made a late push, creating a thrilling finish.

Hunter finished with 18 points, Onyeka Okongwu contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Zaccharie Risacher and Trae Young each had 14 points. Clint Capela grabbed 14 rebounds as Atlanta won its third straight game.

Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 32 points, shooting 10 of 30 from the field. Josh Green scored 17 points, Vasilije Micic added 15 points, and Nick Richards and Cody Martin each had 12. The Hornets have lost five games in a row and seven of their last eight.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Hawks held a 77-76 lead, which they quickly extended to 89-81 as the Hornets struggled offensively, scoring just five points in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the quarter.

Jalen Johnson scores in the 1st half

The Hawks increased their lead to 91-82 with under six minutes left, but the Hornets made a comeback. Miller’s tip-in tied the game at 103-103 with 42.9 seconds remaining, but Hunter then scored the next four points.

Miller hit a 3-pointer to bring the Hornets within 103-102 with 14.6 seconds left, but Hunter made two free throws. After a Charlotte timeout, Miller missed a 3-pointer, and Okongwu sealed the win with two more free throws.

Miller has now scored 20 or more points in seven consecutive games. Richards, who had been out with a rib injury since Nov. 1, returned to the court.

Charlotte played its second game without LaMelo Ball, who is out for at least two weeks with a strained left calf.

The Hawks led 55-50 at halftime after holding Charlotte to just 18 points in the second quarter.

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Hawks secure second straight victory against Cavaliers

Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers

De’Andre Hunter led the Atlanta Hawks with 23 points off the bench, helping them secure a 117-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday in NBA Cup play.

Trae Young added 21 points and 11 assists for the Hawks, who won against Cleveland for the second consecutive game. Jalen Johnson contributed 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Onyeka Okongwu had 15 points and seven rebounds. Zaccharie Risacher scored 11 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 10 points. Clint Capela finished with eight points and a team-high 13 rebounds.

Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 29 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell also had 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, but struggled with his shooting, making just 5 of 23 attempts. The Cavaliers have now lost three of their last five games after starting the season 15-0.

The Hawks led 52-50 at halftime, then extended their lead to 12 points in the third quarter, their largest of the game, after back-to-back baskets by Capela and Johnson. With 2:06 left in the third, Mobley’s free throws cut the Cavaliers’ deficit to 82-71, but the Hawks responded with a 9-0 run, including three baskets from Okongwu, making the score 91-71.

Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers

Young’s fadeaway 3-pointer with 6:04 left in the game put the Hawks ahead 104-86, but Cleveland went on a 6-0 run, prompting a timeout from the Hawks at the 4:53 mark. Mobley’s dunk made it 107-96, but a clutch 3-pointer by Dyson Daniels with 2:56 left sealed the win for Atlanta.

The Hawks struggled early, turning the ball over five times in the first four minutes, which allowed Cleveland to take a 16-8 lead. However, Atlanta responded with a 21-11 run to finish the first quarter, with Johnson’s three-pointer giving the Hawks a 29-27 lead.

After Mobley’s dunk cut the Cavaliers’ deficit to 41-38, Hunter hit a 3-pointer, and Johnson had a fast-break dunk to force a Cleveland timeout with 3:03 left in the half. Young’s floater extended the lead to 10 before Mitchell’s 3-pointer broke his cold shooting streak. Mitchell then hit another triple, and Garland’s back-to-back 3-pointers brought Cleveland within two at halftime.

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The Cavaliers, flawless on their home court, challenge the Hawks to a tough test where every option is risky

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro drives during the first half of an NBA basketball game

The Cleveland Cavaliers begin a home-and-home series against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, aiming to continue their perfect run in Ohio.

The Cavaliers, who will visit the Hawks on Friday, bounced back from their only loss of the season last week with strong wins over the New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors.

Cleveland improved to an impressive 17-1 record, including 10-0 at home, following their 122-108 victory over the Raptors on Sunday.

“I’m surprised by the (record), but I’m not surprised by the play style,” Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen said, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I’ve expected us to come out and play like we do, play at a high level. Still, 17-1 is incredible.”

Ty Jerome followed his 29-point performance in the Cavaliers’ 128-100 win over the Pelicans on Wednesday with 26 points off the bench against Toronto. He has made 19 of 33 shots and 11 of 20 three-pointers in the last two games.

“He’s just in a state of grace right now. It’s beautiful to watch,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Jerome has scored at least 24 points in three of his last four games.

“I just keep doing my job, and that’s just reading the game,” he said. “And if I have space I’m going to shoot it. I think just the more guys you have on court that are aggressive, it gives Donovan (Mitchell) space, it gives Darius (Garland) space, it gives Evan (Mobley) space. We’re putting four or five guys out there that are all aggressive, and it’s like, what’s the defense going to do?”

Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks

Mitchell, who leads the team with 24.4 points per game, scored 26 points against the Raptors. He averaged 26.7 points, 8.7 assists, and 7.3 rebounds in three games against Atlanta last season.

Jarrett Allen contributed 23 points and 13 rebounds, recording his sixth straight double-double.

While the Cavaliers have surged to the top of the standings, the Hawks have dropped a few spots after losing their third straight game on Monday.

Jalen Johnson recorded 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Trae Young added 18 points and 16 assists in a 129-119 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Young has had double-digit assists in four straight games and seven of his last nine games.

However, Young admitted he was frustrated by the simple defense used by Dallas.

“It’s tough,” Young said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’re taking a lot of twos; we’re taking a lot of mid-range shots. I hate that they played a lot of a high-school defense — zone — and it worked. That should never work: going into the zone and being able to stop us.”

Bogdan Bogdanovic followed up a 16-point performance in a 136-122 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday by scoring a season-high 18 points against the Mavericks. He made 14 of 26 shots in those two games after shooting just 4-for-21 in his previous two games.

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The Hawks were fined $100,000 for Trae Young missing a game

Trae Young (NBA)

The Atlanta Hawks were fined $100,000 after All-Star guard Trae Young did not play in a Nov. 12 NBA Cup road win over the Boston Celtics.

The Hawks listed Young as being out due to right Achilles tendinitis, which they said was the reason for his absence. Despite that, the Hawks won the game 117-116 against the defending NBA champions.

After investigating the situation, the NBA concluded that Young could have played and should not have been held out. The league said, “Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that the Hawks held Young out of a game that he could have played in under the medical standard in the (Player Participation) Policy.”

Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks

The NBA also stated that the Hawks’ actions violated the Player Participation Policy, which aims to ensure players take part in the regular season.

So far this season, Young has averaged 21.9 points and an NBA-leading 11.9 assists in 17 games. The game on Nov. 12 against Boston was the only one he missed.

In his seven seasons, Young has been named an All-Star three times, and he has averaged 25.4 points and 9.6 assists in 424 games for the Hawks, all of which he started.

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NBA (Basketball)

Kyrie Irving leads a late rally as the Mavericks defeat the Hawks

Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks

Kyrie Irving scored 16 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 129-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

Jalen Hardy contributed 23 points, and Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie each added 22 points. The Mavericks won their fifth game out of their last six. PJ Washington had 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Daniel Gafford scored 10 points off the bench.

Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Trae Young had 18 points and 16 assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic also scored 18 points, Dyson Daniels had 17, and Clint Capela added 12 points. The Hawks lost their third straight game.

The Hawks held a six-point lead at halftime and extended their advantage to 80-69 after Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 8:42 left in the third quarter.

Dallas closed the gap to four points before Johnson dunked with 5:27 remaining. The Mavericks then went on a 14-7 run, capped by a basket from Marshall. Dallas led 96-95 as the fourth quarter began.

Kyrie Irving pauses on the court in the first half of the game

After Young’s 3-pointer made it 108-107 with 7:35 left, Irving responded by hitting three 3-pointers in a 10-2 run for Dallas.

Hardy and Irving both scored layups to finish the game and seal the win for the Mavericks.

In the first quarter, the Hawks jumped out to a 27-16 lead with a reverse layup by Kobe Bufkin at the 3:18 mark. Bufkin then gave Atlanta its biggest lead at 31-18 with a mid-range jumper with 2:09 left.

Dallas responded with a 10-0 run to close the first quarter, capped by Marshall’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

With 3:04 left in the first half, Hardy’s three-point play gave the Mavericks a 59-53 lead. The Hawks finished the first half with a 14-2 run, with layups by Daniels and Johnson on the final two possessions.

Johnson led the Hawks with 15 points in the first half, while Hardy’s 15 points led Dallas.