Hardaway Jr.'s career night helps Hawks tip Spurs
ATLANTA -- Tim Hardaway Jr. tied his career high with 29 points, including the go-ahead free throw in overtime, to help the Atlanta Hawks break an 11-game losing streak against San Antonio, beating the Spurs 114-112 in overtime Sunday at Philips Arena.
San Antonio had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but Kawhi Leonard's layup rolled around the rim and spun out.
Hardaway scored 21 points in the second half and scored the first eight points in overtime. He made the first of two free throws with 10.8 seconds left in overtime to put Atlanta ahead for good.
Atlanta's Paul Millsap scored a season-high 32 points, including 14 in a row in the third and fourth quarters, to keep the Hawks within reach. Millsap had three 3-pointers, including two to end the third period, and added 13 rebounds and three assists.
Atlanta (18-16) won its third straight game and beat San Antonio for the first time since 2010. The Hawks also received 16 points and 10 assists from Dennis Schroder and Kyle Korver added 14 points with four 3s.
It was the first time in five tries that Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer has beaten former boss Gregg Popovich, the longtime San Antonio coach.
San Antonio (27-7) had their four-game winning streak broken. The Spurs were led by LaMarcus Aldridge with 27 points and 13 rebounds and Tony Parker with 22 points and six assists. Pau Gasol had 18 points and nine rebounds, Leonard scored 13, but was only 3-for-12 from the field, and Manu Ginobli scored 10.
Atlanta tied the game at 100 when Hardaway made a 3-pointer, his fourth of the game, with 3.3 seconds remaining.
Atlanta led by six points in overtime after Schroder's drive made it 110-104 with 2:32 left. But the Spurs went on a 8-2 run and tied it at 110 on Leonard's 3 with 34.3 seconds left.
San Antonio took advantage of Atlanta's poor shooting in the first quarter, outrebounding the Hawks 15-9 and leading 27-25 heading into the second.
Atlanta scored the first 11 points of the second period and took a 36-27 lead on a 3 from Hardaway with 8:21 left. The Spurs began to chip away and tied the game at 39 on Aldridge's hook shot with 2:40 left.
That was the first of three straight baskets for Aldridge, who had 11 points in the first half, and the Spurs took a 46-44 lead at intermission.
The game was tied six different times early in the third quarter before San Antonio went on a 9-0 run. The Spurs eventually stretched it to 10 when Pau Gasol's two free throws made it 70-60. A couple of 3s by Millsap allowed Atlanta to trim the lead to 74-69 after three periods.
NOTES: San Antonio F Kawhi Leonard was a game-time decision and started. He made the trip with the team to Atlanta even though he missed the last two games with stomach flu and was listed as questionable. ... Atlanta sent F Mike Scott to a D-League assignment with the Long Island Nets. It's the fourth D-League trip for Scott, who is trying to recover from a knee injury. ... Atlanta F Ryan Kelly returned to the club after missing two games due to the birth of his daughter. ... Atlanta begins a four-game road trip on Wednesday. San Antonio returns home to host Toronto on Tuesday.