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Atlanta Hawks win big over Denver Nuggets, 119-105

By John Buhler

Jan 25, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) drives to the net against Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) and center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) drives to the net against Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) and center Nikola Jokic (15) in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Hawks get their first win at the Pepsi Center in nearly a decade by defeating the Denver Nuggets, 119-105 to end their West Coast road trip.

The Atlanta Hawks took care of business Monday night when they easily won a game over the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center, 119-105. Atlanta moves to 27-19 on the season and finishes out their four-game West Coast road trip with a 2-2 record away from Philips Arena. It was the Hawks’ first victory in Denver since December 2006.

Atlanta shot the basketball fantastically against the Nuggets, sinking 50.0% of their shots from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and hitting 92.3% at the charity stripe. Though the Nuggets would eclipse the 100-point threshold, ending Atlanta’s five-game streak of keeping opponents under triple digits scoring, the Hawks held Denver to only 39.3% shooting from the field.

The Atlanta Hawks had five players with at least 10 points scored and another three with nine apiece. In his return to the starting lineup, power forward Paul Millsap led the way for the Atlanta Hawks with 22 points on 8-15 shooting. Millsap also had nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block, leading all players in plus/minus with +20.

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Jeff Teague‘s ankle was a non-issue in this game, as he ran the point magnificently with his double-double. Teague had 12 points on 5-11 shooting and 10 of the Hawks’ 28 assists in the game. Teague also had three rebounds and three steals in over 26 minutes of play.

Al Horford shot the basketball efficiently against the Nuggets, sinking eight of his 12 shots for 18 points, including 2-3 from three. His improved three-point stroke is making it even more difficult for big men to defend him. Centers now have no chance when Horford is feeling it from distance and even some power forwards struggle to cover him while the Hawks are on offense.

Tiago Splitter had a quiet 10 points and four rebounds off the Atlanta bench. He was 4-5 shooting the basketball, including a near three-point jump in the second half. The Atlanta Hawks are a better basketball team when Splitter is in head coach Mike Budenholzer’s rotation.

Dennis Schroder had a nice game as well, scoring 15 points on 4-8 shooting and 6-7 from the free throw line. He also had five assists and five rebounds in 19 minutes of play at the point. Kent Bazemore, Kyle Korver, and Mike Scott all had nine points. Tim Hardaway, Jr. had seven points.

Next: Jeff Teague: Is he playing through pain?

The Atlanta Hawks can fly back home feeling good about themselves with a win over the Denver Nuggets. Next up for the Hawks are the Los Angeles Clippers who will make their lone trip to Atlanta on Wednesday night for an 8:00 PM ET tipoff. Let’s Go Hawks!

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