Mavericks lose in finals minutes at home to Hawks
DALLAS (AP) -- Paul Millsap scored 20 points, including a jumper that capped Atlanta's game-turning run in the final minutes, and the Hawks beat the Dallas Mavericks 98-95 on Wednesday night.
The Hawks trailed 93-89 with 3:07 to play before Millsap scored four points in a 7-0 spurt. He also led Atlanta with 11 rebounds.
The Mavericks inbounded with 11.4 seconds left after Jeff Teague hit two free throws to put the Hawks ahead 98-95. Deron Williams' long 3-point attempt at the buzzer banged off the rim.
Williams led the Mavericks with 18 points. Zaza Pachulia had 11 points and 17 rebounds for Dallas.
Teague and Al Horford added 14 points apiece for Atlanta, which won consecutive games for the first time since a seven-game winning streak that ended in early November.
The Mavericks shot 36 percent, their worst mark of the season.
Wes Matthews scored 17 points, Dwight Powell had 14 and Dirk Nowitzki added 13. Nowitzki was 1 for 8 on 3-pointers and didn't score in the fourth quarter while playing 9 minutes.
The largest lead for either team was six points, by the Hawks in the fourth. There were 20 lead changes and 11 ties.
Raymond Felton and Powell combined for 16 third-quarter points to keep Dallas in the game. The period ended with two baskets by Kent Bazemore to give the Hawks a 76-72 lead.
The Hawks' 49-44 advantage at the break equaled the largest margin of the first half, which Atlanta first achieved on a 3-pointer from the right corner from Bazemore with 1:04 to play.
Mike Budenholzer earned his 112th win as Hawks coach, moving him into ninth place in franchise history.
TIP-INS
Hawks: Atlanta played the first half of a back-to-back after having four days off. . Tiago Splitter, who had been sidelined with a sore hip, played after missing Atlanta's previous seven games.
Mavericks: Dallas began a stretch with seven of 10 games at home after playing 10 of 13 on the road. . J.J. Barea played after missing Dallas' previous six games with a sprained ankle.
UP NEXT
Hawks: At Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
Mavericks: Home against Washington on Saturday night.
