1. Hardaway shines in new role:

Hardaway coming off bench to replace departed Korver.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had a game-high 22 points Saturday in his first game as the primary guard off the bench after trades shook up the Hawks’ roster.

While the roster morphs before the team’s very eyes, the Hawks keep rolling. And Tim Hardaway Jr. will get more opportunity in their latest edition.

Hardaway made the most of his first chance as the primary guard off the bench on Saturday night in Dallas. He finished with a gamehigh 22 points, including five 3-pointers, as the Hawks (2116) defeated the Mavericks 97-82 for their sixth straight victory.

They close out a four-game road trip Tuesday night in Brooklyn having won 11 of the past 15 games. They hold the top spot in the Southeast Division and the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, despite having just dealt away top shooter Kyle Korver while Paul Millsap trade rumors swirl.

“We did what we set out to do,” Millsap said Saturday. “We got three out of three (on the trip). We are pleased with it. We are pleased with our play. We still can get better in some areas but we are happy with where we are now.”

Dennis Schroder added 20 points for the Hawks, while Millsap had 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Dwight Howard had 15 points and 20 rebounds. Mike Muscala added 11 points.

While still working on floor combinations in the backcourt with Korver gone to Cleveland, the Hawks starting unit was clearly most effective in Dallas. They were a combined plus-92. The reserves were a combined minus-17 and that’s with Hardaway a plus-4 by scoring 22 points.

“Tim has played well often this year,” coach Mike Budenhozler said. “He did that again tonight. He does things off the dribble too. He attacks.”

The Hawks let an early lead slip away as the Mavericks went on a 21-7 run between the first and second quarters. They turned a six-point defi- cit into an eight-point lead before Budenholzer re-inserted several starters. The Hawks answered with a 16-5 run and they took the lead for good.

“In that second quarter, we lost our way a little bit,” Budenholzer said. “The starters came back in and I was really proud of the way they took an eight-point deficit and turned it pretty quickly with Paul and Dwight and Dennis.”

The Mavericks resorted to the Hack-a-Howard strategy in the fourth quarter and it didn’t work. The big man made 4 of 6 free throws after the three times he was intentionally fouled.

“Step up to the line and make the free throw,” Howard said. “If they foul me again, do the same thing.”

Budenholzer took Howard out with 4:34 remaining. He said the move was not due to the Mavericks’ strategy nor to keep a high pace of play.

“We shortened our rotation a little bit in the second half and only played three bigs,” Budenholzer said. “He was due for a rest. We don’t play our guys in really, really long stretches. It kind of coincided. We decided to leave him in a while and he made his free throws. At some point, we had to take care of his body.”