The Atlanta Hawks underscored their status as the top team in the NBA Eastern Conference on Friday with a 106-97 triumph over the star-studded Cleveland Cavaliers.
Al Horford led six Atlanta players in double figures with 19 points as the Hawks beat the Cavaliers for the third time in four meetings this season.
It was the final regular-season clash between the two teams considered by many to be the best in the East.
Photo: AFP
With the win, the Hawks are the only team in the league to beat Cleveland three times in this campaign.
Even though it could have been a preview of the Eastern Conference finals, Atlanta’s Kyle Korver insisted the Hawks were not trying to send a message.
“There is no statement win,” Korver said. “It’s a good win. We’ll learn from it, as we keep saying about every game. There is no statement win in the regular season.”
Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague scored 16 points apiece. Millsap also chipped in eight rebounds and Horford grabbed nine to go with six assists.
The Hawks reserves were also solid. Dennis Schroder scored 15 points with eight assists and Mike Scott contributed 14 points in 17 minutes.
Atlanta forced 18 turnovers, including nine from LeBron James, who shot just 5-of-13 from the floor in scoring 18 points.
Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 20 points, while Kevin Love added 14 with eight rebounds.
The playoff-bound Hawks led by 17 in the first quarter. The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 12 early in the third before taking their first lead in the period.
The Hawks dominated the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to pull away.
After Schroder’s driving layup with 30.2 seconds to go in the third snapped a 79-79 tie, Atlanta began the fourth on a 17-4 scoring run that put the game out of Cleveland’s reach.
Korver drained a pair of three-pointers in the run, while Schroder connected from long range before Scott capped the surge with a jump shot that made it 98-83 with 6 minutes, 50 seconds to play.
Cleveland never got closer than nine points the rest of the way, connecting on just 5-of-17 from the floor in the fourth.
ROCKETS 103, PISTONS 93
In Houston, James Harden had 38 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his third triple-double this season as Houston beat Detroit to snap a two-game skid.
Harden has 27 30-point games this season.
PACERS 98, BULLS 84
In Indianapolis, Solomon Hill scored 16 points, while Ian Mahinmi had a season-high 14 points in Indiana’s victory over the Chicago Bulls.
The Pacers have won a season-high four straight to get back into playoff contention.
Pau Gasol led Chicago with 18 points.
HORNETS 103, RAPTORS 94
Al Jefferson had 23 points and 13 rebounds as Charlotte beat Toronto in a game that had six technical fouls.
Mo Williams added 23 points for the Hornets.
Lance Stephenson had 11 points and eight rebounds to help Charlotte win their fourth straight game.
GRIZZLIES 97, LAKERS 90
Zach Randolph had 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Marc Gasol scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as Memphis rallied to beat Los Angeles.
The Lakers held an 87-84 lead with three minutes left before Memphis closed the game on a 13-3 run, including seven straight to start the rally.
Jordan Clarkson had a career-high 25 points for the Lakers.
SPURS 120, NUGGETS 111
Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and Tony Parker added 24 to help San Antonio at home beat Denver for their fourth consecutive victory.
Tim Duncan added 15 points for San Antonio. The Spurs have won 11 of their past 12 home games. They are seventh in the Western Conference, 4.5 games ahead of Oklahoma City and a game behind Dallas.
Ty Lawson led Denver with 23 points.
In other games on Friday, it was:
‧ Celtics 104, Pelicans 98
‧ Suns 108, Nets 100, OT
‧ Magic 119, Kings 114
‧ Wizards 99, Heat 97
‧ Jazz 89, 76ers 83
‧ Warriors 104, Mavericks 89
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