Mavs had no answer for Teague

ATLANTA – Once Jeff Teague got in a zone Monday night, the Dallas Mavericks knew they were going to have difficulties getting out of Atlanta with a victory.

While riding the hot hand, Teague poured in 32 points as the Atlanta Hawks wore down the tired Mavs and prevailed, 112-97, at Philips Arena.

Simply put, the Mavs had no answer for Teague, who was 12-of-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from 3-point and did whatever he wanted to do whenever he wanted to do it.

"He was great,’’ Mavs guard J. J. Barea. "I knew when he started making outside shots, it’s tough, because he’s a good driver.

"So when he start making open threes and stuff like that, he’s a great player.’’

No matter whom the Mavs put on Teague – Wesley Matthews, Deron Williams, Barea – they all were met with the same fate.

"He was a problem in a lot of ways,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said. "Transition, hitting shots, making plays.’’

Teague had a total of 35 points the last two games against Indiana and Miami. But against the Mavs, he saw something that was able to help him kick his game into another gear.

"I made some shots, that’s really it,’’ Teague said. "I was just being aggressive.

"(We) played with a lot of energy and played with a lot of speed. When we play like that we’re a really good team.’’

The Mavs were short-handed in the backcourt Monday. Guard Devin Harris didn’t even make the trip to Atlanta because of a sprained left great toe, and Williams went out for good in the second quarter with a hip contusion thanks to a collision he had with Hawks forward Mike Muscala.

"He got hit in the hip,’’ Carlisle said of Williams. "I think it was a hip-to-hip collision on the drive, and so he was unable to return.

"I don’t know anything about a timetable or anything like that, but I’m concerned.’’

Carlisle added that Harris is making some progress with his injury, and he didn’t know it he’ll be able to play in Wednesday’s home game against the Miami Heat.

"It’s on the foot he had the problem with,’’ Carlisle said. "I really don’t know and I don’t want to make it sound too gloomy, and on the other hand I don’t have any information for you.

"I know he’s working hard to get it back to where he can play, but I’m just not sure where’s he’s at.’’

As far as Teague goes, his outside game was rolling and his drives to the basket kept the Mavs (28-23) off-balanced all night.

"He knows how important it is that he drives and attacks and puts pressure back on the paint and the basket,’’ said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, whose team snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 28-22. "He has to make good decisions, he has to score, he has to find his teammates.

"He has to let it fly some when he’s open at the 3-point line.’’

While Teague was doing all of that – successfully – the Mavs were shooting a dismal 36.5 percent from the field and missing 19-of-26 shots from beyond the 3-point arc.

Dirk Nowitzki returned after he sat out Sunday’s 91-78 win over the Phoenix Suns so he could get some rest. Nowitzki played 31 minutes, scored 18 points and was 4-of-11 from the field and 10-of-11 from the free throw line.

Also for the Mavs, Barea tallied 15 points, Raymond Felton had 13 and Wesley Matthews scored 11.

The Mavs have four games remaining before the All-Star break. In addition to Wednesday’s game against the Heat, they host San Antonio on Friday, play at Memphis on Saturday, and entertain the Utah Jazz on Feb. 9.

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 11:20 PM with the headline "Mavs had no answer for Teague."