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Hawks hold off Nets to win Game 5

Apr 30, 2015 - 5:26 AM Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - DeMarre Carroll outdueled Alan Anderson in a battle of role players to help Atlanta build a comfortable lead in the first half of Game 5.

All-Stars Al Horford and Jeff Teague helped the Hawks fend off the hard- charging Brooklyn Nets in the second.

Carroll netted 19 of his 24 points in the opening 24 minutes, Horford added 20 points and 15 rebounds and the Hawks beat the Nets 107-97 to move back ahead in this Eastern Conference first-round series.

Atlanta leads the best-of-seven set 3-2 with Game 6 slated for Friday in Brooklyn. The home team has held serve in each tilt so far.

The Nets never led and trailed by as many as 17 in the opening half. They pulled within two several times in the fourth quarter and even clawed within a point on one occasion, but the Hawks always responded.

Joe Johnson and Jarrett Jack netted 22 of Brooklyn's 27 points in the final frame.

After Johnson sandwiched 3-pointers around a Horford jumper to cut the deficit to 97-95 with 2:20 remaining, Atlanta scored three straight baskets to put the game out of reach.

"We responded," Jack said. "Maybe a little too late."

Horford knocked down another jumper and a pair of Teague layups upped Atlanta's advantage to 103-95 with 42.2 ticks on the clock.

Teague posted 20 points and eight assists for the Hawks, who have won 13 of their last 15 home games against Brooklyn.

Three-point specialist Kyle Korver, just 12-of-37 (32.4 percent) from beyond the arc over the first four games, was 5-of-12 from long distance and finished with 17 points in the triumph.

Anderson scored 16 of his 23 points in the first half for Brooklyn, which is attempting to become the first under-.500 eighth seed (38-44) to win a first- round series. Five eight seeds have beaten No. 1s in NBA history.

"The playoffs are a new season," Horford said. "You never underestimate any team."

Johnson supplied 18 points and nine boards and Jack provided 18 points and six assists in defeat.

Jack poured in 12 consecutive Brooklyn points at one point in the fourth, including a floater to get it within 90-89 with 4:41 to play.

Atlanta, though, countered when a Teague pull-up triple and a layup from Carroll extended its cushion back to 95-89.

Earlier, Teague capped an 11-2 run with a trey as Atlanta raced out to a 21-8 lead. Carroll's fadeaway 3 at the first-quarter buzzer staked the hosts to a 33-16 spread.

The Nets, however, began the second on a 11-0 surge, with 3-pointers from Anderson and Johnson finishing it off to cut the gap to 33-27.

Atlanta was up 53-44 at the break and 82-70 after three.

Jack concluded a 9-0 Brooklyn spurt to start the fourth with a pull-up jumper, whittling the gap to 82-79.

Game Notes

The Hawks have won seven of the nine total meetings between the teams this season, with Atlanta taking the first six ... Atlanta held a 43-35 advantage on the glass and finished 13-of-33 from long distance ... Brook Lopez had 15 points for the Nets ... Carroll also pulled down seven boards.