Third-quarter surge propels Hawks past Celtics
BOSTON -- Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said before Monday night's game it was time for his team to start turning things around.
His Hawks then went out and did just that.
Despite losing big man Dwight Howard to two technical fouls, Atlanta blew open a tight game with a third-quarter explosion and ended a three-game losing streak with a 114-98 victory over the Boston Celtics.
Dennis Schroder, winning his personal battle with Isaiah Thomas, had 21 points, five assists and four rebounds. Paul Millsap had 17 points and 10 rebounds (nine in the first quarter), Howard 17 points and 12 boards and Kent Bazemore 15 points.
Thomas had his worst game of the season, scoring 19 points as his club-record of 43 straight 20-point games ended. He was just 4 of 21 from the floor and turned the ball over seven times. Thomas was pulled with Boston down by 22, but did have seven assists.
The Celtics (38-22) have lost three of their last four after the All-Star break and saw their six-game home winning streak snapped. Marcus Smart had 16 points and Jaylen Brown 15 off the bench as the Celtics went just 10-for-34 from 3-point range.
Howard was tossed for his second technical foul -- this one hanging on the rim after a dunk -- with 4:04 left in the third quarter.
Early in the third quarter, Thomas went against Howard on a switch and the big man grabbed the little big man by the shoulders and bent him back. A review upheld the personal foul call (Howard seemed to apologize to Thomas) but soon after Al Horford hit Howard hard as Howard went for a shot. Howard pushed Horford and earned his 10th technical foul of the season. His 11th got him automatically ejected.
It was the second physical game between the teams in six weeks. In Atlanta last month, Schroder accused Thomas of trash talking against his mother, a charge Thomas denied.
NOTES: While the Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday, the Hawks open a six-game homestand over 10 days against the Dallas Mavericks. ... Boston G Avery Bradley returned and had six points in 15 minutes. G Gerald Green was out with a bruised heel. ... The Hawks are 24-24 after a 9-2 start. ... Celtics G Isaiah Thomas received his January Eastern Conference player of the month award prior to tipoff. ... New England Patriots WR Julian Edelman was seated courtside. ... Celtics C Al Horford, playing his second game against his old team, had his fourth poor offensive game in a row with just six points.