NBA: Atlanta Hawks defeat Memphis Grizzlies to extend winning streak to six games
Last Updated: 08/01/15 9:18am
The Atlanta Hawks extended their winning streak over Western Conference teams to nine games as they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 96-86.
In-form point guard Jeff Teague scored 25 points for the Eastern Conference leaders at the Philips Arena. Atlanta have won six games in succession and Teague has scored 20 or more points in each game.
With the game in the balance at 84-84, the Hawks grabbed control with a 10-0 run, Teague grabbing five of those points as he registered the longest streak of 20-point games in his career.
"In any sport that's what you want, to be really consistent every day," said Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer. "That's what we keep pushing Jeff on. I think he's made a lot of progress.
"He's gifted offensively and he's making some good things happen for himself and for his team."
Mike Conley led Memphis with 17 points, while Marc Gasol had 16, but the Grizzlies lost their scoring touch in the closing minutes.
"It was a matter of not getting stops and not executing," said Gasol. "We couldn't make plays. We couldn't execute. And that was it. You can't defend, you can't execute, it's hard to win."
Elsewhere, Gerald Green scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter as the Phoenix Suns consigned the Minnesota Timberwolves to their 13th straight loss.
Green hit three three-pointers in the fourth, helping the Suns wipe away a seven-point deficit to start the period. Goran Dragic added 25 points to snatch 113-111 success.
Derrick Favors had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Utah Jazz were 97-77 winners over the Chicago Bulls, while the Boston Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak with an 89-81 victory over the struggling Orlando Magic.
