5 THINGS TO KNOW

1. Hawks end 7-game slide

Dwight Howard had 23 points and 17 rebounds, Paul Millsap added 21 points, and the Hawks snapped a sevengame losing streak with a 103-95 victory over the Heat on Wednesday at Philips Arena. Dennis Schroder had 17 points for the Hawks. They had lost 10 of 11 and had gone 14 days without a victory. Tim Hardaway Jr. limped off the floor and into the locker room with a leg injury late in the fourth.

2. Tech, Heath up to road test

Josh Heath hit a 12-foot jumper in overtime to break a 73-all tie and give Georgia Tech (5-3) the win at VCU 76-73. Tadric Jackson scored 19 of his 24 points after halftime for the Yellow Jackets. The Rams (6-3) had closed regulation with a 7-2 run to force overtime.

3. When Tech sports collide

Many Georgia Tech basketball fans with tickets to the Dec. 31 ACC opener against North Carolina at McCamish Pavilion might be described as motivated sellers. The average sale price on StubHub for the Tech-Carolina game has dropped 30 percent since Sunday, when the Yellow Jackets football team received an invitation to the TaxSlayer Bowl, which will be played at the same time. The bowl game starts at 11 a.m., while the basketball game starts at noon.

4. Caddie dies at women’s event

A caddie was pronounced dead after collapsing during the Dubai Ladies Masters on Wednesday, forcing the suspension of the first round and shortening the tournament to 54 holes. The Ladies European Tour said play was suspended after caddie Maximilian Zechmann fell ill on the 13th fairway of the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club. Zechmann was caddying for French player Anne-Lise Caudal.

5. The Heisman finalists, Part 2

Baker Mayfield arrived on Oklahoma’s campus as an unpredictable gunslinger with a chip on his shoulder. He’s still an emotional spark plug, but he has reined in his play and evolved into one of the most efficient quarterbacks in college football history.