Whiteside's big game not enough to lift Heat past Hawks
MIAMI (AP) -- The formula is clear for the Atlanta Hawks. Plenty of balance and sticking with what works was good enough for them to win 60 games last season, and it seems to be just fine so far this year.
Jeff Teague used his speed to break down the Miami defense time and again on his way to 26 points and nine assists, Al Horford scored 17 points and the Hawks saw what was a 15-point lead trimmed to four midway through the fourth quarter before beating the Heat 98-92 on Tuesday night.
Paul Millsap had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Kent Bazemore added 10 points for Atlanta, which has won four straight following a season-opening loss.
Hassan Whiteside finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds for Miami. Dwyane Wade scored 21 points despite spending a long stretch of the second half back in the Heat locker room for reasons that weren't immediately clear.
Goran Dragic scored 19 points and Chris Bosh grabbed 14 rebounds for the Heat.
Miami got within 79-75 with 8:27 left on a layup by Mario Chalmers, the subject of trade rumors. But on the next Atlanta possession, Teague set up Justin Holiday for one of Atlanta's seven 3-pointers on the night and the Hawks kept at least a two-possession lead the rest of the way.
TIP-INS
Hawks: Teague had more assists in the first half (five) than the Heat (four). ... Kyle Korver, who made 49 percent of his 3-pointers last season, was 1 for 6 from beyond the arc and is off to a 5-for-20 start from long range through the first five games. ... The Hawks are off to a 4-1 start for the first time since 2011-12.
Heat: Miami was without Gerald Green (illness), and Amare Stoudemire was inactive. Chris Andersen was active and made his season debut in the third quarter. ... The Heat had four left-handed shooters together in the second quarter with Bosh, Tyler Johnson, Josh McRoberts and Justise Winslow. Dragic, another lefty, was on the bench during that stint.
ATLANTA TURNABOUT
For a while, Atlanta couldn't beat Miami.
The inverse is now true.
Between Jan. 5, 2012 and Dec. 23, 2013, the Hawks went 0-9 against the Heat -- losing by an average of 10.4 points per game. In the seven games between the clubs since, the Hawks are 7-0, with four of those wins by double digits.
WADE MILESTONES
It was a night of milestones for Wade.
He got his 1,000th career dunk, slamming home a missed layup by Dragic in the second quarter -- and grabbing the 25,000th offensive rebound in Heat history in the process. He also eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in his career against the Hawks; including playoffs, he's now scored that many points against seven franchises.
And he recorded his 720th career blocked shot, passing Clyde Drexler for fifth all-time among NBA guards. Those with more: Michael Jordan (893), Tracy McGrady (807), Vince Carter (758) and Ron Harper (729).
UP NEXT
Hawks: Host Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Heat: Visit Minnesota on Thursday.
