Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets: Live Score, Highlights and Reaction
It took six games, but the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks downed the Brooklyn Nets 111-87, Friday night, to advance to the second round of the 2015 NBA playoffs.
Despite struggling on the road thus far in the series, the Hawks opened Game 6 with a 36-point first quarter, setting the tone for a wondrous offensive display rivaling that seen during their midseason 19-game win streak.
Though Brooklyn responded with a strong second half, Atlanta again found its stride in the third, where it outscored the Nets 41-21 behind strong defense and even stronger ball movement. Brooklyn never recovered.
Paul Millsap led the way on the scoreboard for the Hawks, scoring 25 on 9-of-15 shooting. He also added nine rebounds and six assists.
Jeff Teague went scoreless, but was arguably the team's most important player. With 13 assists, he was the driving force behind the Hawks' 34-assist night. He was fantastic defensively, too, setting up transition buckets during the third-quarter run.
Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll emerged early with hot hands. They each scored 20, combining for a 9-of-14 clip from outside.
Brook Lopez was, without question, the Nets' best player. He scored 19 and grabbed seven boards in what could possibly be his final game in a Nets uniform.
Deron Williams added 13 on 50 percent shooting, but was responsible for a number of the turnovers that sparked Atlanta's run out of the half.
The Hawks will look to carry this momentum into the second round after an up-and-down first-round series. They'll host the Washington Wizards—who have been on break for awhile after sweeping the Toronto Raptors—on Sunday.
