DPA/Los Angeles


Paul Millsap scored 10 of 26 points in the final five minutes, Jeff Teague added 23, and the duo combined for Atlanta’s final 16 Tuesday, as the soaring Hawks held off the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers - playing without Lebron James - for a 109-101 victory.
“King” James celebrated his 30th birthday but watched the game from the bench in street clothes because of left knee soreness.
Kyle Korver buried five triples en route to 19 points while German-native Dennis Schoder netted 12 off the bench for South-eastern Division-leading Atlanta (23-8), winners in 18 of its last 21 contests.
Kyrie Irving led Cleveland (18-14) with 35 points and nine assists after missing the previous two games because of left knee bone bruise.  Tristan Thompson finished with 18 and 13 rebounds for the Cavs, who lost star forward Kevin Love to back spasms in the second half.
Cleveland trailed by 17 early in the third quarter, but Irving erupted for 18 points and a Thompson dunk drew the visitors to within 93-90 with 5 minutes 37 seconds left to play.  
But Millsap scored the next eight Hawks points to open up a 101-96 advantage with 3:20 remaining.
After Teague nailed a pair of jumpers around a Millsap layup, he added two free throws and the Hawks had their 14th win in the last 17 games in the series.  

Elsewhere
Memphis Grizzlies 95, San Antonio Spurs 87: Mike Conley scored 18 of his 30 points in the first half, Spaniard Marc Gasol added 17, and the Grizzlies (23-8) beat the visiting Spurs. Italy’s Marco Belinelli and Cory Joseph topped reigning league champ San Antonio ((19-14) with 18 points apiece in the loss.
Dallas Mavericks 114, Washington Wizards 87: Monta Ellis scored 20 points and the Mavs (23-10) handed the visiting Wizards (22-9) their worst loss of the season following a 10th straight win in the series.
Golden State Warriors 126, Philadelphia 76ers 86: Marreese Speights scored 23 points, Brazil’s Leandro Barbosa added 17 off the bench and the league-best (25-5) Warriors crushed the visiting Sixers (4-26).
Portland Trail Blazers 102, Toronto Raptors 97 (OT) - Damian Lillard scored 26 points, including two big free throws with 19.4 seconds left in overtime, LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 with 13 rebounds, and the Trail Blazers (26-7) trimmed the Eastern Conference-best Raptors (24-8) for a fourth straight win. Kyle Lowry finished with 24 points for Toronto, which dropped to 2-1 on its six-game road trip.
New Orleans Pelicans 110, Phoenix Suns 106: Tyreke Evans scored eight of his 24 points in the final two minutes, Anthony Davis netted 19 with 18 rebounds, and the Pelicans (16-15) snapped the visiting Suns’ six-game winning streak. Slovenian Goran Dragic topped Phoenix with 22 points.
Brooklyn Nets 96, Chicago Bulls 82: Brook Lopez scored a season-best 29 points, Joe Johnson added 20 with 11 rebounds, and the visiting Nets (15-16) broke the Bulls (22-10) seven-game winning streak.
In other games: the visiting Detroit Pistons shot down the Orlando Magic 109-86; the Utah Jazz trimmed the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 100-94; and the visiting LA Lakers dropped the Denver Nuggets 111-103.