Hawks at Pelicans
The Atlanta Hawks got a couple of scares over the weekend but made it through with their winning streak intact and the best record in the NBA to the right of their name in the standings. The Hawks just completed the best month in NBA history and will try to make it 20 straight victories when they open February by visiting the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. The Pelicans have taken five of their last six and are thriving at home.
Atlanta’s 17-0 January eclipsed the San Antonio Spurs’ 16-0 March of last season as the best in a calendar month, but the Hawks trailed the Philadelphia 76ers down the stretch before pulling out a 91-85 triumph on Saturday. “Finding ways to win, different players stepping up each night, against a very good defensive team,” Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. “We are going to have to play a lot better going forward.” The Hawks could catch a break on Monday if Pelicans star Anthony Davis (groin) is forced to miss a second consecutive game.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, SportSouth (Atlanta), FSN New Orleans
ABOUT THE HAWKS (40-8): Atlanta, which outscored Portland 36-25 in the fourth quarter of a 105-99 win on Friday, is getting clutch performances down the stretch from the likes of Dennis Schroder and Al Horford. Schroder stepped up with a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:35 left after Horford’s tying bucket on Saturday and continues to draw praise from the staff. “I’m on him a lot to attack,” Budenholzer told reporters of Schroder. “...We believe that when you are open, you need to take what the game gives you. He is going to grow. He’s going to hit big shots for us going forward. We are confident in him.”
ABOUT THE PELICANS (25-22): New Orleans survived without Davis on Friday, when Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson buried five 3-pointers apiece and Dante Cunningham and Alexis Ajinca helped cover for the loss on the inside. “I’m just trying to give it everything I have every time I’m on the court,” Ajinca told reporters. “It helps when I have more minutes. When it does happen, I’m trying to do anything I can to help the team, whether that is rebounds, points or energy.” Friday’s win pushed the Pelicans to 3-1 on their six-game homestand, which concludes with Atlanta and Oklahoma City.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Gordon is 14-of-25 from 3-point range over the last five games.
2. Hawks F DeMarre Carroll (Achilles) has missed the last two games and is questionable for Monday.
3. Atlanta snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 100-91 win on Nov. 28.