Hawks pull away late to beat Bucks 96-80

Josh Childress scored six points in a 13-2 run midway through the final quarter and the Atlanta Hawks broke open a close game to take a rare 96-80 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

Joe Johnson led six players in double figures with 21 points and Atlanta won only for the fourth time in its last 13 games against Milwaukee. The Hawks' bench outscored the Bucks' reserves 43-7.

Al Horford, Zaza Pachulia and Childress each had 12 points and Tyronn Lue added 11 for Atlanta.

Michael Redd had 24 points and Mo Williams added 23, but Andrew Bogut, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds, was Milwaukee's only other scorer in double figures.

The Bucks lost for the second straight night following a five-game winning streak.

Atlanta led by 16 in the first half at 50-34, but cold shooting by Josh Smith helped open the way for Redd and Williams to lead Milwaukee's comeback. The Hawks lead was only 3 points before the 13-2 run.

Smith was only 4-of-14 shooting for 10 points.

Redd and Williams combined for 16 of Milwaukee's first 18 points of the third quarter as Atlanta's 67-54 lead was cut to 67-63. Smith made a long jumper and then stole a pass to set up a layup by Pachulia, and the Hawks led 73-66 entering the final quarter.

A steal and basket by Williams, followed by a 17-foot jumper by Redd, cut Atlanta's lead to 73-70. Two free throws by Bobby Simmons again cut the lead to 3 at 75-72 before the Hawks used a 13-2 run that began with a 3-pointer by Lue.

Childress capped the run by grabbing an offensive rebound to set up his own basket with 5:05 left for an 88-74 lead.

Smith, who set a career high with 38 points in a loss at Milwaukee on Nov. 17, had only 4 points on 1-for-6 shooting in the first half. Still, the Hawks led 52-42 at the halftime break as Johnson and Horford combined to make 8 of 12 shots for 22 points.

Notes: Milwaukee's only bench points came from Simmons (5) and Dan Gadzuric (2). ... Hawks F Marvin Williams was held out with a strained right hip after starting the first 13 games. Undrafted rookie Mario West of Georgia Tech made his first start. He had not played more than 8 minutes in a game, but he had 4 points, 2 rebounds and a steal in the first 7 minutes. ... Hawks rookie PG Acie Law IV plans to practice Thursday and may return from a left ankle injury Friday against New Orleans.