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Hawks 107, Clippers 98
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOS ANGELES — Forward Paul Millsap scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds and point guard Jeff Teague added 20 points, nine assists and four steals, boosting the sizzling Atlanta Hawks to a 107-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night at Staples Center.
Forward DeMarre Carroll finished with 17 points and eight rebounds and center Al Horford scored 16 as the Hawks (26-8) won their fifth straight and the 10th in the last 11 games. They also captured their eighth in a row over a Western Conference foe, their best run since the 1997-98 season.
Forward Blake Griffin had 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Clippers (23-12), who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Center DeAndre Jordan finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, while guard J.J. Redick had 14 points. Griffin and Redick, though, committed five turnovers each.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, but the Hawks broke the game open in the final quarter. Los Angeles shot 36.4 percent to 27.8 percent for Atlanta en route to a 46-44 halftime lead. Griffin led the way for the Clippers with 12 points despite making just three of 10 attempts from the floor. Millsap paced the Hawks with 11 first-half points on 4-of-7 shooting.
Atlanta closed out the third quarter on a 10-2 run for a 77-69 advantage. After a Griffin free throw tied the score at 67 with 3:08 left in the quarter, Carroll scored seven of the Hawks’ 10 points in the final three minutes. Atlanta outscored Los Angeles 33-23 in the period.
After Crawford hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter and pull Los Angeles within 72-77, the Hawks went on an 18-6 surge after a bucket by Millsap gave them a 93-78 cushion with 6:03 remaining. The Clippers never threatened after that.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers opened his pregame press conference by expressing sorrow for the family of Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, whose 15-year-old daughter Alina passed Monday morning from an undisclosed lengthy illness. … Rivers remains Atlanta’s career leader in assists with 3,866. … Lenny Wilkins passed Red Auerbach as the NBA’s all-time winningest coach with his 939th win on this date 20 years ago when Atlanta defeated Washington. … Atlanta won the initial meeting this season with Los Angeles, earning a 107-104 decision on Dec. 23. … The Hawks host the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. … The Clippers will be the home team Wednesday when they face the Lakers at Staples Center.
