ATLANTA: Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer finally has his first win over Gregg Popovich, his longtime former boss in San Antonio.
It took career and season-high points from Tim Hardaway Jr. and Paul Millsap, respectively, to make it happen.
Hardaway matched his career high with 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Hawks beat the Spurs 114-112 in overtime on Sunday night.
Budenholzer, in his fourth season as Atlanta’s coach, had been 0-6 against San Antonio.
Millsap scored a season-high 32 points and had 13 rebounds for the Hawks, who snapped a string of 11 straight losses to San Antonio since 2010.
“It’s great to get this win against a really good team and it’s good to get it for Bud,” Millsap said. “He’s happy to have it under his belt.”
Budenholzer spent 19 years with the Spurs, the last 17 as an assistant. He downplayed his personal motivation.
“You know, I was there for a long time,” Budenholzer said. “A lot of things we’ve tried to bring here ... but at the end of the day it’s a game for our players.”
Popovich knew the win meant more than Budenholzer revealed.
“If we’re going to lose, it’s good to feel somebody on the other end was made happy,” Popovich said.
It was only San Antonio’s third loss in 19 road games.
Hardaway scored nine points in overtime, including the go-ahead free throw with 10.8 seconds remaining. He missed the second free throw but Millsap grabbed the rebound. Dennis Schroder also made only one of two attempts with 3.9 seconds remaining.
Kawhi Leonard missed a last-second layup for San Antonio in overtime. Leonard also had a potential winning short jumper spin around the rim before falling out to end regulation.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead San Antonio.
The Hawks couldn’t hold a 110-104 lead in overtime. Leonard’s 3-pointer tied it at 112-all.
Tony Parker had 22 points, and Gasol had 18 for the Spurs.
Trail Blazers 95, Timberwolves 89: C.J. McCollum scored a career-high 43 points and Portland overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to beat Minnesota.
Mason Plumlee had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Blazers. They were without star point guard Damian Lillard for the fourth straight game because of a sprained left ankle. McCollum made 16 of 25 shots, including a 30-foot 3-pointer with just over 2:30 to play to put the game out of reach.
Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points for the Timberwolves. Rookie Kris Dunn of New London added 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes off the bench.
Pistons 107, Heat 98: Reggie Jackson scored 27 points, Andre Drummond finished with 25 points and 18 rebounds and Detroit wore down depleted Miami.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 23 points for Detroit.
James Johnson scored 20 points and Wayne Ellington had 18 for Miami. The Heat were without what could have been a starting lineup — Goran Dragic (back), Dion Waiters (groin), Justise Winslow (shoulder), Josh McRoberts (foot) and Hassan Whiteside (eye).
Raptors 123, Lakers 114: Kyle Lowry scored 20 of his season-high 41 points in the fourth quarter, and the Raptors held on to stop a two-game skid with the victory over Los Angeles.
Lowry also had nine rebounds and seven assists, while DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points in another big game in his hometown as the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors got back in winning form on the fifth stop of their six-game trip.
Nick Young hit seven 3-pointers and scored 26 points for the Lakers. They emerged from a miserable December with their 15th loss in 17 games.
Pacers 117, Magic 104: Myles Turner had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead Indiana past Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Paul George added 19 points for the Pacers. They have won two straight after a season-worst four-game losing streak. Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando.
It took career and season-high points from Tim Hardaway Jr. and Paul Millsap, respectively, to make it happen.
Hardaway matched his career high with 29 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Hawks beat the Spurs 114-112 in overtime on Sunday night.
Budenholzer, in his fourth season as Atlanta’s coach, had been 0-6 against San Antonio.
Millsap scored a season-high 32 points and had 13 rebounds for the Hawks, who snapped a string of 11 straight losses to San Antonio since 2010.
“It’s great to get this win against a really good team and it’s good to get it for Bud,” Millsap said. “He’s happy to have it under his belt.”
Budenholzer spent 19 years with the Spurs, the last 17 as an assistant. He downplayed his personal motivation.
“You know, I was there for a long time,” Budenholzer said. “A lot of things we’ve tried to bring here ... but at the end of the day it’s a game for our players.”
Popovich knew the win meant more than Budenholzer revealed.
“If we’re going to lose, it’s good to feel somebody on the other end was made happy,” Popovich said.
It was only San Antonio’s third loss in 19 road games.
Hardaway scored nine points in overtime, including the go-ahead free throw with 10.8 seconds remaining. He missed the second free throw but Millsap grabbed the rebound. Dennis Schroder also made only one of two attempts with 3.9 seconds remaining.
Kawhi Leonard missed a last-second layup for San Antonio in overtime. Leonard also had a potential winning short jumper spin around the rim before falling out to end regulation.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead San Antonio.
The Hawks couldn’t hold a 110-104 lead in overtime. Leonard’s 3-pointer tied it at 112-all.
Tony Parker had 22 points, and Gasol had 18 for the Spurs.
Trail Blazers 95, Timberwolves 89: C.J. McCollum scored a career-high 43 points and Portland overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to beat Minnesota.
Mason Plumlee had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Blazers. They were without star point guard Damian Lillard for the fourth straight game because of a sprained left ankle. McCollum made 16 of 25 shots, including a 30-foot 3-pointer with just over 2:30 to play to put the game out of reach.
Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points for the Timberwolves. Rookie Kris Dunn of New London added 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes off the bench.
Pistons 107, Heat 98: Reggie Jackson scored 27 points, Andre Drummond finished with 25 points and 18 rebounds and Detroit wore down depleted Miami.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 23 points for Detroit.
James Johnson scored 20 points and Wayne Ellington had 18 for Miami. The Heat were without what could have been a starting lineup — Goran Dragic (back), Dion Waiters (groin), Justise Winslow (shoulder), Josh McRoberts (foot) and Hassan Whiteside (eye).
Raptors 123, Lakers 114: Kyle Lowry scored 20 of his season-high 41 points in the fourth quarter, and the Raptors held on to stop a two-game skid with the victory over Los Angeles.
Lowry also had nine rebounds and seven assists, while DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points in another big game in his hometown as the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors got back in winning form on the fifth stop of their six-game trip.
Nick Young hit seven 3-pointers and scored 26 points for the Lakers. They emerged from a miserable December with their 15th loss in 17 games.
Pacers 117, Magic 104: Myles Turner had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead Indiana past Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Paul George added 19 points for the Pacers. They have won two straight after a season-worst four-game losing streak. Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Orlando.
