MILWAUKEE - A late-night study session worked wonders for the Atlanta Hawks.
The best team in the Eastern Conference avoided its first three-game slide of the season by pulling away in the fourth quarter against another surprising NBA squad.
Paul Millsap had 23 points and 16 rebounds in Atlanta's 97-86 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, two days after coach Mike Budenholzer had his team in the film room following a 25-point loss to Toronto.
"It helps to see what you're doing wrong," Millsap said. "Calling guys out letting them know it's not going to be acceptable. Tonight, guys were playing well."
Kyle Korver hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter after Atlanta squandered an early 16-point lead. Korver finished with 12 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's two foul shots for Milwaukee with 49 seconds left in the third quarter tied it at 64.
But Atlanta returned to its usual formula in the final period, making extra passes on offense and frustrating the Bucks on defense.
Atlanta opened the fourth with a 24-9 run, including a 3 and an open layup by Millsap for a 90-73 lead with 5:05 left.
"We had that third quarter where it got tight," Budenholzer said. "It was good for our group to have it get tight and then respond and find a way (and) get ... better defensively.
Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton each finished with 19 points for Milwaukee, which had won four in a row.
Both teams seem bound for the playoffs while playing similar brands of team-oriented, defensive-focused basketball.
Milwaukee was the better squad in the third quarter with five offensive rebounds, five assists and four steals.
The athletic Bucks outhustled the Hawks during the period. Antetokounmpo seemed rejuvenated after being whistled for a foul, following the call with two dunks that he finished off with frowns as he jogged back on defense.
Korver's catch-and-shoot 3s from the wing left Milwaukee frustrated in the fourth. Two shots came in about a 26-second span that turned a five-point lead into a 79-68 edge with 9:30 left.
"We fought, we definitely did what we had to do in the third quarter but we gave Korver two good looks and he capitalized on it," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said.
It was reminiscent of the Hawks' impressive play in the first half.
They lured dribblers into double teams along the sideline, possessions which usually led to bad shots or one of Milwaukee's 15 first-half turnovers. The Bucks shot 53 percent in the half but still ended up trailing by double digits.