Paul Millsap Scores Season-High 30 Points In Hawks’ 110-108 Win Over Thunder

With Dwight Howard out due to injury, Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap took over at center and worked his magic.

Paul Millsap Scores Season-High 30 Points In Hawks’ 110-108 Win Over Thunder

Millsap scored a season-high 30 points, including the go-ahead 10-footer with 12.7 seconds remaining to lead the Hawks to a 110-108 road victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.

“It took everything we had,” Millsap said. “It took everybody stepping up to get this win tonight.”

Howard was limited in shoot-around with lower back tightness.

After Millsap’s late shot, Thunder center Steven Adams rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Russell Westbrook and dunked it, although a review that the shot was made just after time expired.

Westbrook entered the game as the NBA’s leading scorer with more than 30 points per game.

”If he gets his points – he’s going to get that regardless,” Millsap said. ”The game plan was try to take everybody else out of it.”

The Oklahoma City (16-12) star was discontent with his performance, however: Westbrook scored 16 of 33 shots, and had 11 rebounds and seven assists.

”No, we don’t have any moral victories around here, buddy,” he said.

Dennis Schroder scored 31 points and made 10 of 16 shots for the Hawks (14-14), who have won four of six following a six-game losing streak.

”Pretty special effort by the guys tonight, to come in here down Dwight, without him, and to find a way to compete against a great rebounding team and an individual player that’s playing just lights-out basketball,” Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. ”I was very proud of our players.”

Thunder guard Victor Oladipo sat out with a sprained right wrist. Coach Billy Donovan said Oladipo has a brace on the right hand and is not cleared for any activity with it. Donovan added Oladipo won’t require surgery, although there is no timetable for his return. The 24-year-old guard is the team’s No. 2 scorer at 16.1 points per game.

On Monday, Jerami Grant scored a season-high 15 points, and Andre Roberson matched a season high with 14 points for Oklahoma City.

Westbrook scored 18 points in the second quarter to help the Thunder gain a 53-48 lead. Atlanta shot 50 percent in the first half, although without Howard, they were out-rebounded 27-14, and Oklahoma City outscored them 10-0 on second-chance points. Schroder scored 18 points in the first half, and Millsap added 16.

The Hawks ended the third quarter well to build an 81-78 lead into the fourth, then Atlanta held on.

”They made some tough plays toward the end of the game,” Thunder guard Semaj Christon said. ”We can do better on defense keeping the guys in front of us without fouling.”

The Thunder next visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, when the Hawks will host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 05: Paul Millsap #4 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Andre Roberson #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder at Philips Arena on December 5, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Article by Pablo Mena