Alexander-Walker leads Hawks to 7th straight win, 124-112 over the tanking Mavericks

ATLANTA (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 29 points, Jalen Johnson had 27 and the Atlanta Hawks won their seventh in a row, holding off the Dallas Mavericks 124-112 on Tuesday night.

The Hawks, who have the NBA's longest active winning streak, led nearly the entire game but couldn't pull away from the Mavericks until the final period.

Dallas tied the score at 97 on Khris Middleton's step-back jumper with just over nine minutes remaining. Atlanta took control from there to hand Dallas its eighth straight loss.

Alexander-Walker hit two straight 3-pointers in the closing minutes to put the game away.

Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg was held to 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting, shadowed most of the night by the Hawks' top defensive player, Dyson Daniels.

Daniels also had plenty of work at the offensive end with 14 points and 10 assists, reaching 1,000 field goals in his career. Onkeya Okongwu chipped in with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 21 points.

The Hawks came into the night trailing sixth-place Orlando by 2 1/2 games for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the East. Atlanta sat at ninth in the conference, but hope a strong finish could lift them out of a fifth consecutive trip to the play-in tournament.

This is the Hawks' longest winning streak since a pair of seven-game runs during the 2021-22 season. Six of their victories during the streak have come at home, pushing the Hawks to .500 at home (16-16) for the first time since they were 4-4 in late November.

The Mavericks, who are in full-scale tanking mode as they begin a major rebuild around the 19-year-old Flagg, were greeted by chants of “Who are you? Who are you?” from the Atlanta crowd. Dallas has now lost 18 of 20.

Mavericks: At Memphis on Thursday night.

Hawks: Host Brooklyn on Thursday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, left, dribbles against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum, left, drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots against Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) shoots against Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

CHICAGO (AP) — Leroy Sané scored a tiebreaking goal in the 57th minute, giving Germany a 2-1 win over the United States in a friendly on Saturday and a nine-game winning streak heading into the World Cup.

Kai Havertz put the four-time champions in front with a header from a free kick in the second minute but Antonee Robinson tied the score in the 37th with a left-foot volley from the top of the arc following Christian Pulisic’s corner kick.

Sané scored off a short pass from Havertz, a diagonal shot between the legs of Miles Robinson that appeared to take a slight deflection off the defender and beat goalkeeper Matt Freese to the far post.

The 16th-ranked United States has lost nine straight games to European opponents dating to 2022.

Hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1994, the Americans open against Paraguay on Friday, then play Australia and Turkey. The U.S. hadn’t lost its last match heading into a World Cup since 2002.

No. 10 Germany starts against Curaçao on June 14 in a group that includes Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

The match drew a sellout crowd of 63,636 to Soldier Field, site of the 1994 World Cup opener. Chicago refused to bid to host 2026 World Cup matches, citing what it said was a lack of financial assurances by FIFA.

The U.S. played without top defender Chris Richards, sidelined since tearing a pair of left ankle ligaments on May 17.

Germany was missing 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl, ruled out for the World Cup after injuring a thigh in training. Oliver Baumann started in goal as Manuel Neuer rested while recovering from a calf muscle issue.

Freese started in goal for the 15th time in 18 matches.

Die Mannschaft went ahead after Tyler Adams's foul just outside the penalty area. Joshua Kimmich's free kick was headed in by Havertz for his 22nd international goal,

Robinson scored his fifth international goal after Germany's clearance attempt on Pulisic's corner kick went just outside the area. Robinson celebrated with a cartwheel and a backflip

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Fans hold up a heart shaped sign during international friendly soccer match between Germany and United States in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

United States defenders Antonee Robinson, left, and Tim Ream celebrate after Robinson scored a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Germany in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich, right, controls the ball under United States forward Folarin Balogun during the first half of an international friendly soccer match in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

United States defender Antonee Robinson scores against Germany during the first half of an international friendly soccer match in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Germany forward Kai Havertz (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against United States in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)