Hawks 103, Kings 97
ATLANTA -- Bolstered by forward Paul Millsap's sixth double-double of the season, the Atlanta Hawks ended a three-game losing streak with a 103-97 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
Millsap was 9-for-19 from the field and scored 23 points. He added 16 rebounds, which matched his season high, as Atlanta (9-6) ended Sacramento's three-game winning streak and beat the Kings for the 15th straight time.
Millsap helped secured the win when he scored on a drive to the basket with 15.7 seconds left to thwart a late Sacramento comeback attempt.
The win spoiled a 24-point, 12-rebound performance from Sacramento center DeMarcus Cousins, who scored 17 in the first half.
Cousins banged his right elbow on the court when he was fouled early in third quarter. He left the game with his fourth foul after using that elbow to foul Atlanta center Tiago Splitter with 3:18 left in the period. He scored only two points in the fourth quarter after returning.
The Kings (4-8) also got 14 points and six rebounds from forward Rudy Gay and 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists from guard Rajon Rondo. Center Kosta Koufos came off the bench to score 13 and guard Ben McLemore added 11.
Atlanta guard Dennis Schroder, starting in place of injured all-star Jeff Teague, had a season-high 22 points and added six assists. Center Al Horford scored 17 points for the Hawks.
After a see-saw first half that saw 12 ties and 10 lead changes, the Hawks went on an 11-0 run to end the first half and took a 62-52 lead into intermission.
Atlanta's surge was led by Schroder, who had 11 of his 14 first-half points in the second period, and Millsap, who had nine of his 15 points in the period.
Sacramento stayed close thanks to Cousins, who scored 13 of his 17 first-half points in the first quarter. Atlanta's perimeter defense was able to slow the Kings' 3-point efficiency, holding the NBA's second- best unit to four attempts from beyond the arc.
Atlanta led by as many as 11 (73-62) with 8:05 left in the third quarter, but the Kings outrebounded the Hawks 19-11 in the period. Sacramento used the second opportunities to outscore Atlanta 27-19 and draw to within 81-79 after three quarters.
The Hawks seemed to have the game put away when they led 99-88 with 2:49 remaining. But an 8-0 run by the Kings, including a 3-pointer from guard Darren Collison, cut the lead to 99-97 with 31.8 seconds remaining.
NOTES: Atlanta changed its starting lineup and went with Justin Holiday at guard instead of Tiago Splitter. It was Holiday's first start this season. ... Kings G Darren Collison returned to action after missing the five previous games with a left hamstring strain. ... Inactive for Atlanta were G Jeff Teague (left ankle) and G Kent Bazemore (right ankle). Teague is close to returning. He had an intensive workout prior to the game. ... F Eric Moreland was inactive for Sacramento. ... Sacramento travels to Miami on Thursday, the second of five road games in eight days. Atlanta travels to Cleveland on Saturday for the first meeting between last year's Eastern Conference finalists.