ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks have added some new pieces to their lineup this year, but on opening night it was an old reliable veteran who made the difference.

Forward Paul Millsap scored 28 points and sparked a 24-6 run with a pair of 3-pointers to open the final quarter and help the Hawks to a 114-99 season-opening victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday at Philips Arena.

"We were able to have a good defensive fourth quarter after a game was tight back and forth, able to get some turnovers, get some stops, get some separation," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. "It was able to fuel the offense."

Millsap, now in his fourth season with Atlanta, was 11-for-20 from the field, including three 3-pointers, with seven rebounds and six assists to help the Hawks end a four-year streak of opening-night losses. His defensive intensity and his timely 3-pointer with 8:09 remaining gave the Hawks a 10-point margin it never relinquished.

The game-clinching run was sparked by Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 10 points during the streak en route to scoring 21 points off the bench. Thabo Sefolosha, another reserve, added 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

"Tim Hardaway and Thabo Sefolosha on the wings were magnificent," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. "It was really great to see that."

Dwight Howard, Atlanta's big offseason free agent signee, had a successful debut with 11 points and 19 rebounds. Howard set a team record for most rebounds in his debut with the team. Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 18 in his Atlanta debut in 2001-02.

Washington was led by Markieff Morris with 22 points. Bradley Beal was hampered by foul trouble and was limited to 13 points. John Wall added 12 points and 10 assists, but was just 3-for-15 from the floor, and Otto Porter Jr. scored 10. Marcin Gortat had a team-high 11 rebounds.

"It definitely would have been a different game if I wasn't in foul trouble," Beal said.

The loss ruined the debut of Washington coach Scott Brooks.

During the 24-6 run to open the fourth quarter, Washington committed six turnovers and was 3-for-11 from the field.

"It all starts with the defense," Hardaway said. "We were getting stops and being aggressive and taking our defensive intensity to a whole new level."

Gortat said, "We lost our focus. We were in the game for three quarters. Unfortunately, in the fourth quarter they made a run and made some shots. We didn't answer back. We didn't stop them defensively."

It took Howard no time to make is presence known on the boards. He had seven rebounds in the first five minutes and had 15 in the first half. His prowess on the glass fueled the fast start and the Hawks led 23-14 with 3:12 left in the first quarter.

The Wizards recovered and led 53-48 when Morris connected on a 3-pointer with 1:59 left in the half. Morris led the Wizards with 13 points in the first half.

Atlanta outscored Washington 9-3 into the break and led 57-56 at intermission. Millsap scored 14 in the first half.

The game remained close and physical in the third quarter and came to a head with 8:01 left in the quarter when Atlanta's Kent Bazemore was called for a flagrant foul for undercutting Wall on a layup.

Wall made both free throws to give the Wizards a six-point lead, but Atlanta roared back with seven straight points to retain the lead and had an 81-80 advantage after the third quarter.

"I like how we responded to that," Budenholzer said. "The adversity and tension and emotion and sometimes your team can go in the wrong direction."

NOTES: Atlanta signed PG Dennis Schroder to a four-year contract extension worth $62 million. The three-year veteran inherited the starting job after the Hawks traded incumbent Jeff Teague to Indianapolis in the summer. Schroder averaged 10.4 points and 5.4 assists in the preseason. ... The Hawks were without F Mike Scott, who has been fighting through a sore left knee during training camp, and F Tiago Splitter (right hamstring). The Wizards were without C Ian Mahinmi, who is expected to be out until at least Nov. 12 after surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus. Jason Smith and Daniel Ochefu are expected to take up most of the slack. Also inactive for Washington was F Daniel House Jr. ... Atlanta plays again Saturday at Philadelphia. Washington is at Memphis on Sunday before hosting Toronto in the home opener on Nov. 4.