ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) – Paul Millsap took over for Atlanta in the fourth quarter to help hold off a Cleveland comeback and the Hawks beat the Cavaliers, who were without LeBron James, 109-101 on Tuesday night.
James was ruled out about 90 minutes before Tuesday night’s game with a sore left knee. His status is day to day. Coach David Blatt says that “obviously, we want to get him right.”
James also was held out of Cleveland’s Dec. 11 game at Oklahoma City with soreness in the knee.
The Hawks led by 17 points early in the second half but had to hold off a comeback by Cleveland, which had 35 points from Kyrie Irving.
After a jam by Tristan Thompson cut the Atlanta lead to 93-90, Millsap scored Atlanta’s next eight points. Millsap led the Hawks with 26 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
Jeff Teague had 23 points and 11 assists, and Kyle Korver sank five 3-pointers while scoring 19 points.
Thompson had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland.