The Denver Post

Balanced Hawks hold off Wizards

Millsap scores 19 as Atlanta ties series at 2-2

- By The Associated Press

atlanta» Paul Millsap bounced back from a sluggish start to score 19 points, Dwight Howard had his best game of the postseason and the Hawks pulled away from the Wizards 111-101 on Monday night to even the opening-round playoff series at two wins apiece.

Howard, who was a nonfactor through the first three games, had a double-double by halftime and finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

The Hawks got double-figure scoring from seven players, including huge contributi­ons off the bench from Kent Bazemore and Jose Calderon.

Bradley Beal scored 32 points, bouncing back from a dismal performanc­e in Game 3, and John Wall had another stellar performanc­e with 22 points and 10 assists.

But those two, as good as they were, couldn’t match a more balanced approach by the Hawks.

Now, a series marked by ill feelings that went so far as Markieff Morris calling Millsap “a crybaby” is down to a best of three.

Bazemore scored 16 points and doled out seven assists, while the 35-year-old Calderon, picked up on waivers late in the regular season, chipped in with 10 points and five assists.

Dennis Schroder finished with 18 points for the Hawks after a scoreless first half.

Otto Porter Jr. played after leaving Game 3 with a strained neck. He scored 13 points for the Wizards.

B toronto» Norm Powell scored a career playoff-high 25 points, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and 10 assists and the Raptors beat the Bucks in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead.

Serge Ibaka scored 19 points and DeMar DeRozan had 18 for the Raptors, who can advance to face defending NBA champion Cleveland in the second round with a victory in Game 6 at Milwaukee on Thursday night.

Many in the sellout crowd of 20,251 rose to their feet and chanted “Raps in six” in the final minute of the game.

DeMarre Carroll scored 12 points as all five Raptors starters reached double figures. Cory Joseph had 10 points off the bench for Toronto.

Giannis Antetokoun­mpo led the Bucks with 30 points and nine rebounds, while Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 points and Greg Monroe had 11. Milwaukee has lost back-to-back games after routing Toronto 104-77 in Game 3.

Raptors 118, Bucks 93

 ??  ?? Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard dunks in the second quarter Monday night against the Washington Wizards. Howard had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Daniel Shirey, Getty Images
Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard dunks in the second quarter Monday night against the Washington Wizards. Howard had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Daniel Shirey, Getty Images

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