The Hawks came into the US Airways Center in Phoenix looking to get back in the win column after suffering a 115-102 loss to the Nuggets in Denver two nights ago. Atlanta is currently on a six-game road trip. Atlanta faced a Suns team tonight that is fighting for their lives to earn the final playoff spot in the West.

The Suns got out to a 8-6 start, but the Hawks were able to take the lead thanks to Paul Millsap who had an exceptional first quarter. He had 11 points and did a phenomenal job on finishing at the rim. The Hawks went on a 9-2  run and the Hawks led, 28-23, after one quarter.

The second quarter featured a period of fast breaks in which the Suns and Hawks were both able to finish at the basket and draw fouls. A Pero Antic three put the Hawks up, 33-25, to start the quarter, but Eric Bledsoe answered for Phoenix and made it 39-35. Bledsoe did a great job of getting inside the paint and keeping the Suns in the game. Archie Goodwin got the Suns the lead again at 40-39. DeMarre Carroll then executed perfectly on an Atlanta fast break that put the Hawks up, 42-40. The Suns would then squash an eventual nine-point deficit to lead 43-42 with 2:20 left. An Al Horford mid-range jumper put the Hawks up, 46-43, but Marcus Morris tied it up at 48 after having his own shooting slump early in the game. Phoenix went 7 of 14 from three due to them being able to move without the ball. Phoenix would then put Atlanta over the limit and earned a 50-48 halftime lead.

The Suns continued their hot streak in the third quarter. Kyle Korver tied it at 50 early in the period, but P.J. Tucker knocked down a three-ball to put Phoenix up, 56-53. The Suns did a great job of forcing turnovers but couldn't knock down some of the open looks needed to start putting Atlanta away. Phoenix went on an 11-0 run, and Marcus Morris extended the lead to 61-50. The Hawks were able to cut it to five on a Kent Bazemore slam that made it 65-60 but went into the fourth quarter trailing the Suns, 73-65. Markieff and Marcus Morris both combined for 40 points for the game.

In the fourth quarter, the Hawks received the stops that they desperately needed and rallied for a comeback win led by the sharpshooting of Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap. It all started with a Dennis Schroder three-ball that cut the deficit to 75-69. A Shroder slam dunk then cut it to 75-73. Paul Millsap knocked down a three that gave the Hawks the lead at 80-79. He hit two threes in the quarter. Kyle Korver then added on to Atlanta's momentum with another three pointer that extended the lead at 83-79. It was his 1,700th career made three-pointer. The Hawks were on a 10-2 run. The Hawks forced turnovers and got the Suns to cool down from three-point range. Kent Bazemore knocked down a three from the perimeter and made it a 86-79 Hawks lead with 3:53 left in the game. Marcus Morris answered back for Phoenix with a three of his own that cut it to 91-85 but could not slow down Atlanta. Paul Millsap hit a three that made it 94-85. Kent Bazemore put the finishing touches for the Hawks' win with a dunk on a fast break that increased the lead to 96-87 with 45 seconds left. Paul Millsap led all Hawks in scoring with 23 points and added on nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

The Hawks now stand at 51-14 and are up 10 games on the Cleveland Cavaliers for first place in the East. They will head to Los Angeles on March 15th for the third game of their six game road trip. The Suns fall to 34-33 and are desperately fighting for the eighth seed in the West. They stand at 10th in the conference behind the Pelicans and Thunder. Phoenix will take on the Knicks in New York on March 15th.

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About the author
Yuriy  Andriyashchuk
20 and from Atlanta. A die hard Atlanta sports fan(Hawks,Falcons, Braves). Also a University of Nevada-Las Vegas journalism major. Huge fan of southern rap/hip hop.