Recap: Atlanta vs. Milwaukee

By Sports Network

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Al Horford scored 21 points, hauled in nine rebounds and had three blocks to lead the Atlanta Hawks in a 102-96 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Marvin Williams and Mike Bibby had 18 points apiece for the Hawks, who have won three of four overall. Ronald Murray added 16 points, while Joe Johnson ended with 15 points and nine assists in the win.

Richard Jefferson had 25 points for the Bucks, who have dropped two straight and five of seven overall. Ramon Sessions chipped in 21 points, eight helpers and seven boards off the bench in defeat. Charlie Villanueva gave 19 points in a losing effort.

With 3:49 showing on the clock, Murray drained a three-pointer to give the Hawks six points of breathing room.

Villanueva and Luc Mbah a Moute went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to bring the Bucks within 91-89 with just over 2 1/2 minutes remaining.

Horford, though, connected on a three-point play following a foul by Villanueva.

Still up by five, Murray sunk a three-pointer from the right corner to make it 99-91 with 53.7 ticks left.

A Villanueva layup then made it a six-point affair but with Milwaukee forced to foul, the Bucks failed to get within the final margin.

The Hawks jumped out to a 28-24 lead after the first quarter, but the Bucks knotted it up at 48 heading into the intermission.

Atlanta opened the second half with an 11-2 run to take a 59-50 lead early in the third stanza. Johnson started things off with five points, Williams added a jumper, Horford went 1-of-2 from the line and Bibby nailed a three to cap the surge off.

Moments later, Milwaukee responded with a 10-2 run that tied the game up at 63 with 2:48 left in the third. Joe Alexander closed out the run and had four of the points, Sessions also had four and Jefferson offered a layup on the burst.

The Hawks led by four, 71-67, heading into the final frame.

The teams traded baskets and Atlanta's lead hovered around four, but a layup from Jefferson brought the visitors within 81-78 with 7:34 left in the game.