ATLANTA -- Al Horford and Jeff Teague scored 20 points apiece, helping the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks hold off the Brooklyn Nets 107-97 Wednesday night in an NBA playoff series that's closer than anyone envisioned.
Shaking off a dislocated finger, Horford flew around the court in the fourth quarter when it looked like Brooklyn was on the verge of bouncing all the way back from an early 17-point deficit. In the final minute, Teague darted into the lane for a couple of baskets that sealed another hard-fought victory.
Atlanta leads 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, which heads back to Brooklyn for Game 6 Friday night. The Hawks can wrap it up, but the eighth-seeded Nets seem intent on taking it to the limit.
Alan Anderson led the Nets with 23 points off the bench. Jarrett Jack added 18 as the Brooklyn backups totally dominated Atlanta's reserves.
DeMarre Carroll scored 24 points, pushing the Hawks out to a big lead. But the Nets, as they did in each of the first two games in Atlanta, came back to make it another
Jack carried Brooklyn down the stretch, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers and then driving for a floater in the lane that closed the gap to 90-89 with less than 5 minutes to go.
Teague responded with a 3, then stole it from Jack at the other end. The Hawks fought for an offensive rebound after missing underneath, leading to an easy bucket for Carroll off a pass for Horford.
Joe Johnson hit two more 3s to pull the Nets to 97-95 - their last gasp, it turned out. Horford, who also had 15 rebounds, hit one of his patented
Teague didn't look the least bit bothered by a twisted ankle that briefly sent him to the locker room to get taped.
With
Brooklyn responded big time in the second. The Nets started the quarter on an 11-0 run, which the Hawks finally snapped when a wild shot to beat the shot clock barely nicked the rim, allowing Paul Millsap to grab the rebound for an easy putback. Anderson scored 14 points in the period and the Nets closed to 53-44 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Nets: Johnson scored 18 points. ... Brook Lopez scored 15 points, but the 7-footer had only three rebounds. The Nets were beaten on the boards, 43-35. ... After a big performance in Brooklyn's overtime win in Game 4, Deron Williams was held to five points on 2-of-8 shooting.
Hawks: Teague landed on Lopez's foot early in the third quarter and twisted his right ankle. Teague hobbled straight to the locker room, but it was only to get his ankle taped. He was out less than 3 minutes. ... Horford dislocated his right pinky in Game 1, and he appeared to bang it again in the first half. He had it sprayed at one point and was constantly fidgeting with the tape job. But he looked just fine in the final period. ... Ressler joined two other members of his proposed ownership group, Spanx founder Sara Blakely and her husband, Jesse Itzler, who live in Atlanta. Last week, it was announced those three, along with former NBA star Grant Hill and New York-based businessman Rich Schnall, had reached an agreement to purchase the Hawks for $850 million. The deal still must be approved by NBA owners.
MR. SPORTSMANSHIP
Atlanta guard Kyle Korver was recognized before the game as the winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award. He is the first Hawks player to win the award, which now bears the name of former Detroit
Korver was presented the trophy by teammate Elton Brand, who won in 2006 with the Los Angeles Clippers, and former Hawks center Dikembe Mutombo, a recent selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
