Hawks power past Celtics
Atlanta — Paul Millsap had a season-high 31 points and 16 rebounds, Jeff Teague added 24 points and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Boston Celtics 118-107 on Saturday night.
Kent Bazemore finished with 21 points for Atlanta, which moved one game ahead of Boston to take sole possession of third place in the Eastern Conference.
With two regular-season games left for both teams, the Hawks moved 1½ games ahead of Southeast Division rivals Miami and Charlotte while Boston has just a half-game lead over the Heat and Hornets.
Marcus Smart finished with 19 points and Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas each scored 16 for the Celtics, whose four-game winning streak ended.
After playing one of their best games of the season in Tuesday's win over No. 2 seed Toronto, the Hawks essentially ended Boston's hopes when Kyle Korver hit a 3 to push the lead to 10 with 1:50 remaining.
The point guard tandem of Teague and Dennis Schroder combined for 39 points and 14 assists to help the Hawks win their third straight and 12th in the last 15.
Boston took the game's first 12-point lead on Crowder's fastbreak layup midway through the third, but the Hawks closed the period on an 184 run. They took their first lead since midway through the second on Millsap's fifth 3 of the game and a layup on the next possession in the third's final minute. Tip-ins Celtics: For the first time 19 games, Thomas didn't score at least 20 points. His string of leading the team in scoring ended at 17 straight in Friday's home win over Milwaukee.
Hawks: Have won four straight at home against Boston . ... Millsap's previous season high was 29 points in last week's home loss to Cleveland. ... Bazemore, who missed Thursday's win over Toronto with a sore right knee, went 8 of 13 from the field . ... The Celtics' 71 first-half points were the second-most allowed this season. Minnesota scored 72 in a loss to Atlanta on Nov. 9. Sizzlin' second quarter There were five second-quarter lead changes and five ties. The Celtics shot 61 percent with Marcus Smart scoring eight points. Teague had nine points as the Hawks shot 55 percent. Up next Celtics: Host Charlotte on Monday. Hawks: Visit Cleveland on Monday.