Hawks Prevail 114-98 In Scrappy Showdown With Celtics
BOSTON (AP) — Dennis Schroder had 21 points to help the Atlanta Hawks snap a three-game losing streak with a chippy 114-98 win over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.
Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard each added 17 points. The Hawks led by 13 entering the fourth quarter and increased the edge to 24 despite playing the final 16 minutes without Howard, who was ejected in the third quarter after receiving his second technical foul.
Isaiah Thomas had 19 points as the Celtics ended a seven-game home winning streak.
Boston was off all night offensively, despite the return of guard Avery Bradley to the starting lineup after missing 22 of the previous 23 games with a right Achilles tendon injury.
Bradley was on a minutes' restriction, logging 15 while scoring six points.
Tensions ran a little high early in the third quarter after a pair of hard fouls involving Howard.
Howard was whistled for a foul after grabbing a driving Thomas near his neck. The play was reviewed but ruled to be a common foul.
Then, after Howard was fouled by Al Horford, he responded by pushing the former Hawks' All-Star. The play resulted in a technical on Howard and a chorus of boos from the TD Garden crowd.
Howard's night ended late in the quarter, after he received his second technical for taunting after he did a chin-up on the rim following a dunk.
It marked the latest skirmish between players on the two teams this season.
Thomas connected on late jumper to beat the Hawks in the first meeting between the teams last month. Schroder later made some waves when he said that Thomas made a remark about his mother during the game. Thomas disputed the charge.
If there were hard feelings remaining between them, it didn't show Monday. They even exchanged some subtle smiles while having a conversation during a free throw break in the first quarter.
The Celtics couldn't find any offensive flow in the first half, connecting on just 38 percent of their attempts from the field (18 of 47) and 34 of 87 (39 percent) for the game.
TIP-INS
Hawks: Outscored Boston 60-34 in the paint and 20-11 in second-chance points. ... The technical fouls were the 10th and 11th for Howard this season.
Celtics: With just 19 points, Thomas' franchise-record streak of consecutive 20-point games ended at 43. It was just the second time this season he has not scored at least 20 points. ... Boston's opening night starting lineup of Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson, Horford, Bradley and Thomas dropped to 16-6 together.
UP NEXT
Hawks: Begin a six-game homestand Wednesday night against Dallas.
Celtics: Get their third look at the conference-leading Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Boston lost the two first two meetings this season at Cleveland.