Hawks start new streak with win over Wizards

ATLANTA -- Jeff Teague scored 26 points, Al Horford added 21 and the Atlanta Hawks got back to winning after their first loss in more than a month, pulling away from the Washington Wizards for a 105-96 victory Wednesday night.<br /> <br /> The East-leading Hawks were coming off a 115-100 loss at New Orleans that snapped their franchise-record, 19-game winning streak. They made sure it didn't turn into a different kind of streak, overcoming a dismal third quarter to beat the Wizards for the third straight time this season.<br /> <br /> Teague finished off the Wizards with a drive to the basket, laying the ball in despite getting bounced to the floor by Marcin Gortat. Teague sank the free throw to complete the three-point play, giving Atlanta a 103-92 lead with 1:54 remaining.<br /> <br /> John Wall had 24 points and Bradley Beal 23, but it wasn't enough to keep Washington from its season-high fourth consecutive loss.<br /> <br /> Horford had a double-double, also grabbing 13 rebounds. As usual, plenty of Hawks contributed, with DeMarre Carroll scoring 14, Paul Millsap 11 and Dennis Schroder 10 off the bench.<br /> <br /> Shortly after tipoff, the NBA announced a first: all five Atlanta starters (also including Kyle Korver) were named players of the month for January after teaming up to lead the Hawks to a 17-0 record.<br /> <br /> The Hawks knocked down seven 3-pointers in the opening quarter, building a 29-18 lead. They stretched the margin as high as 16 and led 59-46 at halftime, but the Wizards dominated the third quarter.<br /> <br /> Atlanta endured a miserable stretch, missing eight of nine shots from the field and four of six free throws, in addition to turning it over twice. The Wizards took advantage, surging ahead for the first time since the opening minutes, 74-73, on Wall's two free throws with 1:17 left in the third.<br /> <br /> But the Hawks hit the final two baskets of the quarter, reclaiming a 77-74 lead heading to the final period.<br /> <br /> They never trailed again.<br /> <br /> TIP-INS<br /> <br /> Wizards: Coach Randy Wittman was called for a technical after complaining about a foul on Paul Pierce, who was called for contesting a desperation 3 by Carroll with the shot clock running down. Korver stepped in to make the technical, then Carroll made two of three at the line. ... Wall became the second player in franchise history to have 500 assists by the 50th game of the season. Rod Strickland reached 500 in the 48th game of the 1997-98 season.<br /> <br /> Hawks: Atlanta improved to 34-2 overall and 19-0 at home when leading at halftime. ... G Shelvin Mack (left calf strain) missed his ninth straight game but is getting close to returning, according to coach Mike Budenholzer.<br /> <br /> UP NEXT<br /> <br /> Wizards: At Charlotte on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Hawks: Host West-leading Golden State on Friday in the first meeting this season between the teams with the NBA's best records.

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