Atlanta Hawks hold off Chicago Bulls for 12th Straight Win
The Atlanta Hawks have not lost to an NBA team with a winning record since Thanksgiving. Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls would try to stop that Saturday night, but could not cool off the red hot Hawks. Atlanta won a franchise-tying record of 12 straight wins, beating the Bulls, 107-99.
Atlanta guard Jeff Teague sparked an early Atlanta run with 2 steals. The arsenal off the bench in the form of Elton Brand and Mike Scott combined with 12 points in the first quarter. Chicago PF Pau Gasol would keep the Bulls in the game early with 8 rebounds and 6 points. But the Hawks would capitalize on opportunities to take a 23-16 lead to end the first quarter.
The Hawks would not let the foot of the gas in the second quarter as they worked well down low with 18 points in the paint. Hawks guard Kyle Korver kept shooting well from downtown with 12 points coming from beyond the arch. Atlanta shot 47% in the first half in the United Center, where they have not won in 6 visits. But despite Gasol’s 10 points and Derrick Rose’s running the point well, Atlanta would go into halftime with a 48-39 lead.
The third quarter seemed like bad déjà vu for the Bulls as Korver drained yet another pair of three pointers to ignite the potent Atlanta offense. Al Horford would fill every stat column available as he pulled boards, steal and hammer down in the paint with 18 points. However, Rose and Jimmy Butler would keep the Bulls in the game. Rose rattled off 15 points and Chicago would stay in the fight with 5 blocks and 5 steals on defense.
The fourth quarter saw Atlanta hold off yet another team to keep their 4 game road trip perfect. A late surge by the Bulls cut the lead to 5, but the Hawks were quick to restore order to get win number 33 on the year. Korver would finish with 7 three pointers and 23 points, while Horford stayed solid with 22 points.
The Atlanta Hawks return home Monday to take on the struggling Detroit Pistons to kick off a seven-game stretch at Phillips Arena.