NBA: De'Andre Hunter helps Hawks handle stumbling Pelicans

De'Andre Hunter celebrated his 27th birthday by scoring 22 points to lead Atlanta past the visiting New Orleans Pelicans 124-112 on Monday, extending the Hawks' season-best winning streak to four games.

Hunter shot 8-for-14 from the field and made 4 of 7 3-point attempts to help the Hawks reach the .500 mark for the first time since Oct. 28 when they were 2-2. The Hawks swept the two-game season series with New Orleans.

Atlanta's Jalen Johnson added 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Dyson Daniels scored 19 points and grabbed four steals. Trae Young had 12 points 15 assists, and Clint Capela grabbed 17 rebounds.

New Orleans got 29 points from CJ McCollum and Yves Missi added 23 points and 12 rebounds. Brandon Boston Jr. came off the bench to score 19. Dejounte Murray, who played the last two seasons for Atlanta, made only 2 of 15 from the floor and wound up with seven points, 10 assists and five steals in his return.

The Pelicans have lost nine straight games and dropped 15 of their past 16.

New Orleans led 28-26 after the first quarter. The Pelicans' point total matched the number New Orleans scored in the entire first half on Sunday in a 118-85 defeat against the New York Knicks.

Aided by 11 Atlanta first-half turnovers and the 14 points off the bench from Boston, New Orleans held a 59-58 halftime advantage. The Pelicans led by as many as nine points, going up 46-37 on a bucket by Murray with 5:13 to go before the break.

Atlanta moved in front and began to distance itself late in the third quarter, using an 11-2 run to establish an 85-75 lead. Hunter had two 3-pointers and Young sank his first trey of the game during the spurt. Atlanta led 92-85 entering the fourth quarter.

The Pelicans played without Zion Williamson (hamstring), Brandon Ingram (leg), Jose Alvarado (hamstring), Herbert Jones (shoulder) and Jordan Hawkins (back).

The Hawks next play on Wednesday at Milwaukee. The Pelicans return home on Thursday to face the Phoenix Suns. — Field Level Media/Reuters