Hawks soar in OT epic, Dallas end futility against Spurs

LOS ANGELES: The Atlanta Hawks edged the New York Knicks in an unexpected NBA epic on Sunday, emerging after four overtimes and almost four hours with a 142-139 victory.

“That was fun. I don’t want to do that again ever, but it was fun,” said Paul Millsap, whose 37 points included the go- ahead basket in the fourth extra period as the Hawks withstood 45 points from Carmelo Anthony to win on their home floor.

Millsap added 19 rebounds and seven assists in 60.07 minutes on the f loor, and said he was determined not to come out of the contest.

“I’ve never played 60 minutes of basketball,” he said.

Four- OT games are an NBA rarity. The Hawks won one against Utah in 2012, but the Knicks’ only other foray into a fourth overtime came back in January of 1951 — when they lost to the Rochester Royals.

Four Knicks players fouled out, including Anthony.

Millsap’s put-back basket gave Atlanta a 141-139 lead with 27.4 seconds left.

Af ter the Hawks’ Dennis Schroder made one of two free throws with 10.2 seconds left, New York’s Courtney Lee missed two three-pointers in the final eight seconds.

The Dallas Mavericks ended a frustrating run of futility in San Antonio, downing the Spurs 105101 for their first win on their Texas rivals’ home f loor since November 26, 2010.

The Mavericks, who had lost 12 straight in San Antonio, were led by a career-high 24 points from Seth Curry, with Harrison Barnes chipping in 19. — AFP