Millsap paces Hawks over Blazers, 104-98
Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague, left, drives to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Oregon, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016. AP
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Paul Millsap had 23 points and nine rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks survived a late rally by Portland to defeat the Trail Blazers 104-98 on Wednesday night.
Kent Bazemore also had 23 points for the Hawks, who have won three straight overall and four straight against the Blazers.
CJ McCollum had 28 points for Portland, which trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half but came all the way to grab an 84-79 lead after Meyers Leonard’s 3-pointer with 8:10 left.
Kyle Korver wrestled back the lead for the Hawks with his first 3-pointer of the game, before Millsap’s 3-pointer and Al Horford’s jumper stretched Atlanta’s lead to 98-92 with 1:53 left. Portland couldn’t catch up.
Damian Lillard had 18 points for the Blazers, who went 9 for 31 from 3-point range.
Atlanta opened a 33-20 lead on Mike Scott’s jumper in the second quarter, but Portland pulled within one at 43-42 after Lillard’s long jumper. Atlanta had a 48-43 lead at the break.
The Hawks increased their advantage to 66-56 midway through the third, but the Blazers kept hanging around, closing to 74-72 on McCollum’s 19-foot jumper.
Lillard hit a 3-pointer and a free throw to tie it at 79 with 9:42 to go. He followed with a running layup that gave Portland its first lead since the first quarter.
