All-star forward Paul Millsap scored 21 points as the Atlanta Hawks won their 18th consecutive contest with a 105-99 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
Millsap had plenty of help from his fellow all-stars Al Horford and Jeff Teague, who finished with 17 and 13 points respectively.
Teague scored six of his points in the final quarter. The Hawks — who lead the Eastern Conference — have not lost since a game in Milwaukee on Dec. 26 last year. And at 39-8, they have eclipsed their win total for last season (38-44).
Atlanta could post a perfect 17-0 month with a win on Saturday against Philadelphia, who are to end a seven-game home stretch.
Kyle Korver scored 16 points, while Kent Bazemore came off the bench to tally 12 points in 40 minutes as the Hawks won without injured forward DeMarre Carroll, who sat out with a left Achilles strain.
He was replaced in the lineup by Thabo Sefolosha, who played just 2 minutes, 21 seconds before he went out with a calf strain.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 37 points for Portland a day after he was named to the Western Conference All-Star team.
Wesley Matthews posted 16 points, while Damian Lillard finished with 13 points and 11 assists for the Blazers, who have lost seven of their past nine.
Millsap, Horford and Teague were all named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team on Thursday, the first time since 1980 that three Hawks have made the game.
Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer is to coach the East team in the Feb. 15 game at Madison Square Garden in New York.
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