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Horford, Hawks handle Lakers

Dec 17, 2013 - 4:20 AM Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Al Horford led six Hawks in double figures with 19 points while grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds as Atlanta topped the Los Angeles Lakers, 114-100, on Monday.

Jeff Teague also recorded a double-double in the victory with 17 points and 10 assists. Paul Millsap tallied 18 points, nine boards and four steals as Atlanta knotted the season series with LA at a game apiece. The Lakers took down the Hawks, 105-103, on Nov. 5 in the first meeting.

Kyle Korver was held scoreless in the first half but came alive in the third period, scoring all 11 of his points while extending his NBA record 3-point streak to 94 games.

The Lakers fell to 1-4 in Kobe Bryant's return to the court from a torn Achilles despite 21 points without missing a shot from Jordan Hill and 23 points off the bench from Nick Young.

Pau Gasol contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds while Bryant struggled to the tune of eight points on 4-of-14 shooting. Xavier Henry scored 18.

"It's just a matter of time," said Bryant. "You increase the activity, the ankle gets used to it a little more. I've just got to keep my eye on the big picture and focus on getting better."

The Lakers led 54-47 at intermission but things unraveled in the third. Korver knocked down his first shot of the contest, a 19-footer from Teague, at 8:58 to spark a 17-2 Atlanta run.

"In the third quarter, I thought our aggressiveness and our intensity on the defensive end set the tone for a good second half," said Atlanta head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Korver drained two triples during the charge, which Millsap capped with a three-point play after Bryant fouled him on a short hook shot.

Korver added his third 3 and Horford's alley-oop from Teague extended the Hawks edge to 77-66.

They were never challenged the rest of the way.

LA led by as many as 10 points late in the first quarter, but Shelvin Mack gave Atlanta momentum heading into the second with a runner as the buzzer sounded.

The Hawks tied it at 41 apiece on a DeMarre Carroll trey and went in front on his layup at 3:53 of the second quarter, but the Lakers ended the half on a 9-2 run to assume control heading into intermission.

Game Notes

The Hawks have won five of six against the Lakers in Atlanta ... Mike Scott scored 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, Carroll scored 13 points and Lou Williams had eight assists for Atlanta ... Los Angeles had just two points in transition.