Collins leads Hawks past Nuggets 106-98
ATLANTA — John Collins scored a careerhigh 30 points and reserves Vince Carter and DeAndre’ Bembry fueled a third-quarter rally that helped the Atlanta Hawks beat the Denver Nuggets 106-98 on Saturday night.
Atlanta (6-20) snapped a four-game losing streak. Collins also had 12 rebounds and five assists.
The Hawks lost 13893 at Denver on Nov. 15, and the Nuggets also controlled Saturday night’s game early on. But they faded in the finale of a five-game trip.
Nikola Jokic had 24 points and 11 rebounds, but Denver (17-9) dropped games on back-to-back nights for the first time all season after sweeping the first three situations. Juancho Hernangomez finished with 17 points and 10 boards.
The Nuggets were coming off a 113-107 loss at Charlotte on Friday night.
Rookie Trae Young scored on a driving lineup with 8:28 to go in the third to give Atlanta a 61-60 lead, and the Hawks increased their lead to 84-72 on a driving layup by Bembry with 58 seconds left in the quarter.
Carter scored 11 of his 13 points in the third, and the Hawks outscored the Nuggets 35-21 to take an 86-77 lead into the fourth.
Tip-ins
Nuggets: Forward Paul Millsap was held out after he fractured his right big toe in Friday’s loss. High-scoring guards Will Barton (right hip/ core) and Gary Harris (right hip) also were out … Mason Plumlee scored six points for Denver but missed the chance to play against his brother Miles, whose sore knee kept him out of action for the Hawks.
Hawks: Backup Point guard Jeremy Lin was sidelined by a lower back strain. Forwards Taurean Prince (left ankle sprain) and Omari Spellman (right hip) also were out.
Up next
Nuggets: Return home to play the Grizzlies on Monday.
Hawks: Visit the Mavericks on Wednesday.