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 Tolliver, averaging just 3.4 points a game, had already surpassed his previous best of 13 points by halftime. The Sixers kept leaving him open beyond the arc, and he kept knocking down 3-pointers, finishing 5 for 7 from long range.
The Hawks missed their first eight shots but quickly pulled themselves together against weary Philadelphia, which was playing its eighth game in 12 days. Atlanta led by 19 before settling for a 59-47 lead at halftime.
After Philadelphia cut it to 66-63, the Hawks finished the third quarter on a 25-7 spurt.
Atlanta's Al Horford also scored 21 points with 12 rebounds, and Josh Smith chipped in with 13 points.
Damien Wilkins led the Sixers with 21 points, while Dorell Wright had 20.
The Hawks, coming off a West Coast road trip, started out like they were still suffering from jet lag. They went nearly 5 minutes before scoring their first points, when Smith laid one in after a series of quick passes. Suddenly, it was a different team. Atlanta dominated the rest of the half, hitting 25 of 36 (69 percent) from the field.
Teague's performance was no surprise. The point guard repeatedly beat the Sixers off the dribble, slicing into the lane for easy layups and thoroughly outplaying Philadelphia's young guard, Jrue Holiday. Teague made 10 of 15, including three beyond the arc, and doled out 11 assists.
But Tolliver's play caught Philadelphia totally off guard.
In the teams' previous meeting, a Sixers victory in December, the journeyman played only 7 minutes and failed to score. This time, he couldn't miss from the outside, chipped in with a season-best eight rebounds, and gave the Hawks a much-needed spark off the bench.
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Atlanta snapped another losing streak, as well. Philadelphia had won six straight over the Hawks.
The Sixers made a run in the third quarter, closing to 66-63. But again, the Hawks turned it on the rest of the period, finishing with a 25-7 run that put Philadelphia away.
Thaddeus Young had 16 points for the Sixers, who shot just 43 percent (37 of 86). Atlanta finished at 54 percent (43 of 80) from the field.
NOTES: The Hawks recalled F Mike Scott from Bakersfield of the NBA Development League, where he averaged 24.7 points and 11.3 rebounds during a three-game stint. ... Atlanta also made a couple of other moves, waiving F-C Jeremy Tyler and signing G Shelvin Mack to a 10-day contract. Tyler was acquired from Golden State on Feb. 21 but played only one game for the Hawks. ... Philadelphia's starters combined for just 37 points. ... Atlanta's Kyle Korver extended his franchise-record streak for hitting at least one 3-pointer to 53 games. ... The Hawks played without C Zaza Pachulia, who remains slowed by a strained right Achilles. ... Holiday was held to 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting. He did have 12 assists.
[Associated
Press; By PAUL NEWBERRY]
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