Schroder helps ailing Hawks take down Nets
NEW YORK — The Atlanta Hawks got pushed by the Brooklyn Nets in the fourth quarter, and they responded with a game-clinching run.
Not bad for a team playing without a couple of key post players. Dennis Schroder scored 24 points, reserve Luke Babbitt had 20 and the shorthanded Hawks beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-102 on Saturday.
“It’s been a grind for us. We’re taking it one game at a time and trying to win each game,” Babbitt said. “You can’t replace John Collins or Dewayne Dedmon. I thought as a collective group everyone pitched in a little bit more tonight.”
Dedmon hurt his left leg Wednesday night, and the center is expected to miss three to six weeks. Collins, the 19th pick in the June draft, injured his left shoulder Thursday night and will be out for two to three weeks.
“It’s a good win for us, feels like we’ve been playing better,” Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. “To actually finish a game and get a win is good for our group.”
Atlanta (5-17) had five players score in double figures in its third road win of the season. DeAndre Bembry had 12 points, and Isaiah Taylor and Taurean Prince each had 11. Spencer Dinwiddie had 15 points for Brooklyn, which has lost five of seven.
Joe Harris scored 13, and Allen Crabbe, Sean Kilpatrick and Jarrett Allen each had 12 points.
“I don’t think we could really guard them,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I felt like they were getting us in closeouts and driving us to the rim.”
Allen’s layup trimmed Atlanta’s lead to 90- 88 with 8: 13 left. But the Hawks responded with an 18-3 run.
Kent Bazemore made a 3-pointer and Schroder and Babbitt each hit a jumper to make it 108-91 with 3:54 remaining.
Cavaliers 121, Hawks 114
ATLANTA — LeBron James’ unusual midgame defensive switch was the hot topic after he helped Cleveland extend its winning streak.
James took command of a challenging defensive assignment and stuck around to see the end of the Cavaliers’ 10th straight victory, 121-114 over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night.
James had 24 points and 12 assists, and Kevin Love finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds to help Cleveland hold off Atlanta to extend the NBA’s longest active winning streak. It was James’ 14th double-double in 22 games.
James had frequent exchanges with the officials but avoided serious confrontations following his first ejection in 1,082 career games Tuesday night in a home victory over Miami.
Dennis Schroder, who l ed Atlanta with 27 points, blew past Cavaliers guard Jose Calderon to score on three straight layups to give Atlanta a 67-58 lead late in the first half.
James ( 6- foot- 8, 250 pounds) then took over primary defensive duties on Schroder (6-1, 172) to close the half and continued covering the super- quick guard in the second half.
“He was kicking our butts in the first half,” said James of Schroder.
“My teammates asked me to take the challenge. I wanted the challenge.”
James seemed to relish the chance to test his skills against the point guard.
“I can’t give that up,” he said.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said the defensive switch “was big time for us.”
Even t hough James also guarded Schroder at times in Atlanta’s 117115 win at Cleveland on Nov. 4, Schroder said the defensive switch was still a shock.
“It’s amazing when the best player in the world tries to stop you and tries to guard you,” Schroder said.
“I still tried to be aggressive. It doesn’t mean that I have to stop playing. He’s a big body and it’s tough to just go past him.”
Schroder was held to 10 points in the second half while being shadowed by James.
“I don’t think anybody understands how tough that is,” Cleveland’s Dwyane Wade said about James’ defensive challenge. “But that’s why LeBron’s one of the greatest players to play the game.”
The Cavaliers t ook the lead by outscoring the Hawks 36- 23 in the third quarter. Love had 12 points while making three 3s in the period.
Cleveland stretched its lead to double figures for the first time at 90-79 on a 3-pointer by James. The Cavaliers led 99-90 entering the final period.
A basket by Ersan Ilyasova cut Cleveland’s lead to 111- 108. Cleveland’s Jeff Green and Atlanta’s Kent Bazemore traded jams before two free throws by Ilyasova cut it to 113-112.
The Cavaliers survived the crisis when James sank a 3- pointer over Bazemore and Wade added a short floater.
Ilyasova had 22 points whil e making four 3- pointers. Marco Belinelli had 18 points and rookie John Collins had 13.