The Atlanta Hawks were up 2-1 going into Brooklyn for game four to play the Nets. The first half of this game was well played. At the end of one quarter, the Hawks led 25-24. When the second quarter started though, the Nets went on a run to take the lead. The Nets run was quickly combated by the Hawks, who went on a run of their own to take the lead back. At the half, the Hawks were in the lead 51-45.
The second half was very well played just as the first was. The Hawks maintained their lead throughout the 3rd quarter and going into the fourth quarter, they were up 82-74. To start the fourth quarter, the Nets went on an 11-3 run to tie the game at 85 a piece. The Nets took their first lead of the second half at 90-88 after Deron Williams hit a huge three, and on the next possession, he hit another one. Deron Williams had gone on a personal 8-0 run, and the run gave the Nets a 93-88 lead with 7 minutes left.
The Hawks found their way back into the game though, and retied the game 97-97 with four minutes left. The game was back and forth from that point on, and with 29 seconds left, the Hawks found themselves down 2 points after Joe Johnson missed a shot. Paul Millsap drove the ball right by the Nets defense, and slammed the ball to tie the game. On the Nets possession, Deron Williams missed a turnaround jumper, and the final Hawks possession ended with the time running out, and the game was set to go to overtime tied 104-104.
The overtime period was just like the rest of the game, back and forth. The score was close, but with 54 seconds left the Nets found a sliver of hope after Thaddeus Young hit a floater to put his team up three. On the next possession, the Hawks gave the ball to Kyle Korver, and he missed a three. After DeMarre Carroll pulled down an offensive rebound, Korver found himself shooting another three, and again he missed, but DeMarre pulled down another rebound. Mike Budenholzer called a timeout after DeMarre’s second rebound to set up a play. His play was set to go to Kyle Korver again, but Korver missed his third straight three and the Hawks were forced to foul Deron Williams. After Deron made both free throws, the game looked over. There was 20 seconds left and Atlanta was down by 5. Jeff Teague made a layup, but it meant nothing. The Hawks did not score again, and after two more Joe Johnson free throws the game was over. The final score found the Nets on top 120-115.
Deron Williams was the Nets leading scorer tonight, scoring a game high 35 points and assisting on 7 passes, and he also stole three balls on the defensive end. Brook Lopez finished the game with 26 points and he also grabbed 10 rebounds. The Nets shot the ball very well from three tonight, making 14 threes on 31 attempts.
The Hawks were lead by Jeff Teague, who had a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists. He also had 2 steals, playing solid defense. DeMarre Carroll also scored 20 points for the Hawks, and he had 9 rebounds. Paul Millsap finished with a double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
The Nets have won two straight games now to tie the series 2-2. The next game of the series will be played in Atlanta on Wednesday, as the Hawks look to win a game after losing two straight away games.
