Hawks keep streak alive, top Trail Blazers 105-99

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks overcame 37 points by Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 18 games by beating the Trail Blazers 105-99 on Friday night.<br /> <br /> Portland, which has lost four of five, led after each of the first three quarters but couldn't stretch the advantage to more than six points.<br /> <br /> Following four ties in the final period, 3-pointers by Mike Scott and Paul Millsap gave Atlanta its biggest lead at 97-91. Portland came no closer than four points the remainder of the game.<br /> <br /> The Hawks have not lost in 2015. The winning streak began after a loss to Milwaukee on Dec. 26.<br /> <br /> Millsap scored 21 points to lead six Atlanta scorers in double figures. Al Horford had 17 points and Kyle Korver 16. Atlanta outscored Portland 36-25 in the final period.<br /> <br /> Atlanta improved to 13-2 against the Western Conference, including a franchise-record 12 straight wins.<br /> <br /> Aldridge had a game-high 11 rebounds. Wesley Matthews had 16 points and Damian Lillard had 13 points with 11 assists.<br /> <br /> The Hawks overcame a sudden shortage of small forwards to keep their streak alive before a sellout crowd.<br /> <br /> Atlanta's DeMarre Carroll missed the game with a left Achilles strain. His replacement, Thabo Sefolosha, lasted only two minutes before leaving with a right calf strain.<br /> <br /> In typical fashion for the Hawks, who have won with depth this season, the team's third option at small forward, Kent Bazemore, didn't miss a beat. Bazemore made his first three shots and finished with 12 points.<br /> <br /> Aldridge, who has continued to play with a torn ligament in his left thumb, again showed why he'll be a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team. Aldridge scored 21 points in the first half while making nine of 12 shots.<br /> <br /> Aldridge scored 10 straight points for Portland late in the half, including a turnaround 3-pointer that started the run. He closed the half with a three-point play to give the Trail Blazers at 51-50 lead at the break.<br /> <br /> TIP-INS<br /> <br /> Trail Blazers: Coach Terry Stotts was not pleased commissioner Adam Silver selected Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins instead of Lillard to replace injured Lakers star Kobe Bryant on the Western Conference All-Star team Friday. "I don't understand why or how he was not voted to the team to begin with," Stotts said. "I don't understand why or how he wasn't named a replacement. The guy was an All-Star last year." ... Lillard made only 6 of 20 shots from the field.<br /> <br /> Hawks: The Hawks didn't immediately update the status for Carroll or Sefolosha for Saturday night's game against Philadelphia. ... Guard Shelvin Mack missed his sixth straight game with a left calf strain. ... The Lakers were the last Western Conference team to beat Atlanta - 114-109 at Los Angeles on Nov. 18. ... Attendance was 19,018, a sellout.<br /> <br /> UP NEXT:<br /> <br /> Trail Blazers: At Milwaukee on Saturday.<br /> <br /> Hawks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.