MIAMI (AP) — All-Star Jalen Johnson had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, CJ McCollum added 26 points off the bench and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Miami Heat 127-115 on Tuesday night to snap a two-game slide.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 19 for the Hawks, who led most of the way and spoiled Miami's celebration of the 20th anniversary of its 2006 NBA championship. Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal were sitting courtside, and most of the players from that first Heat title team were in attendance.
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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, center and assistant head coach Chris Quinn react to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio (0) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) celebrates with Mouhamed Gueye (18) after dunking the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 21 points for the Heat. Pelle Larsson and Simone Fontecchio each had 18, and Bam Adebayo finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds for Miami.
Atlanta took the lead for good with 4:31 left in the opening quarter and answered every Miami rally attempt with a run of its own.
The Hawks took a 21-point lead in the second quarter; Miami quickly got within 11, but Atlanta had the margin out to 17 points again by halftime.
It was largely the same plot in the third quarter; Miami shaved 12 points off the deficit to get within five after just 4:57 of the second half, but the Hawks pulled away again and McCollum's 3-pointer to end the quarter gave Atlanta yet another 17-point lead going into the fourth.
The Hawks outscored Miami 63-24 from 3-point range, plus held a 68-45 edge in bench scoring.
It was the final game for both teams before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday afternoon.
Hawks: Host Utah on Thursday.
Heat: Visit Boston on Friday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, center and assistant head coach Chris Quinn react to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio (0) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) celebrates with Mouhamed Gueye (18) after dunking the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
NEW YORK (AP) — After two days, 2,500 dogs and more than 200 breeds, the Westminster Kennel Club is coming down to just seven canines vying for U.S. show dogs' most coveted prize.
The winner gets a trophy, ribbons, bragging rights and, this year, the distinction of winning the milestone 150th annual Westminster show.
Finalists include an Afghan hound named Zaida, a Lhasa apso called JJ, a Maltese named Cookie and an old English sheepdog dubbed Graham. Also in the running are a Chesapeake Bay called Cota, a Doberman pinscher named Penny and a smooth fox terrier called Wager.
Those seven will face off at Madison Square Garden for the best in show award.
Whichever dog ends up with the prize, lots of others scored meme-able moments or light up the crowd, even if they didn't make the finals.
Over two nights of semifinals, spectators cheered extra-loud for a Xoloitzcuintli named Calaco, a hairless dog who went around the ring like he had nothing to prove. A vizsla named Beamer charmed the crowd by hopping into a box set out for his handler's tools, and Storm the Newfoundland got laughs when he jumped up on his handler, standing almost as tall as she. Spectators cheered so loud for a golden retriever named Oliver that they drowned out the arena's announcer, and chants of “Lumpy! Lumpy!” resounded as Lumpy the Pekingese strolled before a judge.
One dog that made history in the semifinals was Millie, a Danish-Swedish farmdog. The small, spry breed just became eligible for the Westminster show this year, and Millie bested about 10 other farmdogs Tuesday afternoon to get to the evening round.
“It's been a very exciting journey” to establish the breed in the U.S., said Brita Lemmon, who got her first farmdog in 2000 and competed Tuesday with one named Coyote.
Westminster wins often go to pooches with professional handlers or owners with decades or even generations of experience behind them. But just reaching the elite, champions-only show is a major accomplishment in dogdom, especially for first-timers such as Joseph Carrero and his Neapolitan mastiff, Dezi.
After yearning for a Neo since his teenage years, Carrero finally got one when he was 35. A heavy equipment operator from Indian Springs, Nevada, he started showing the dog only because the breeder wanted him to. Now Carrero himself breeds and handles his Neos in the ring, while also working full-time and then some.
“It's really hard for us to do this, but we enjoy it, and he enjoys it,” Carrero said as a visitors gathered around to greet the jowly, 190-pound dog.
Boerboels, which are formidable guard dogs originally from South Africa, played a major role in how Natalee Ridenhour met her late husband and why she eventually left metropolitan life for a farm in Royse City, Texas.
On Tuesday, Ridenhour and a Boerboel named Invictus did something else she once would never have pictured: compete at the Westminster show.
The dog didn't advance past the first round. But as a visitor delightedly petted the 170-pound animal, Ridenhour said, “Honestly, the big win is: You're about the 50th person who's gotten down in his face and loved on him.”
Millie, a Danish-Swedish farm dog, competes in the working dog group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Penny, a doberman pinscher, competes in the working group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A Chesapeake Bay retriever named Next Generation's Accelerate, or Cota, grabs the blue ribbon from his handler after winning the sporting group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A Lagotto Romagnolo named "Boardwalk Here Comes the Sun" competes in the sporting group of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Handler Hadrian Towell guides Manchester terrier Passport Sunkissed It's a Yes from Me Bonchien through the ring during the Junior Showmanship finals competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A Weimaraner, named Sophia, competes in the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A handler guides Hillcock's Burl Oak through the ring during the sporting dog group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
A Chesapeake Bay retriever named Next Generation's Accelerate, or Cota, grabs the blue ribbon from his handler after winning the sporting group competition of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Dogs wait to be judged in the demo ring at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A blood hound waits in the grooming area at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A groomer prepares their dog at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
A handler with a dog treat in his mouth adjusts his Ibizan hound's stance at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
