ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 points as the Atlanta Hawks bounced back from a rare loss by becoming the first NBA team to 50 wins, scoring a season high in routing the Sacramento Kings 130-105 Monday night.
Resting three starters, the East-leading Hawks (50-13) were beaten by the lowly 76ers over the weekend to snap a six-game winning streak. Korver didn’t even make the trip to Philadelphia, the Hawks hoping the rest would help snap him out of a shooting slump since the All-Star break.
Boy, did it ever. Korver went 6 of 8 from 3-point range. The Hawks set a franchise record by going 20 of 36 beyond the arc, breaking the mark of 19 set against Dallas on Dec. 17, 1996.
Korver had plenty of help. All five Atlanta starters were in double figures, as well as Dennis Schroder with 12 off the bench.
The Hawks led 76-54 at the break — their most prolific half of the season. They finished with 42 assists, best in the NBA this season. Jeff Teague led the way with 13.
Rudy Gay scored 23 points as the Kings lost their fourth in a row.
The Hawks hardly missed over the first two quarters, capping a 30-of-48 shooting performance (62.5 percent) with Teague stealing the ball, driving toward the hoop, and somehow banking in a wild shot while Ray McCallum tried to put him in a bear hug.
The ball dropped through as Teague stumbled out of bounds with 2.6 seconds left, unable to hold back at big smile after his improbable shot. He missed the free throw to cap a three-point play, but Atlanta still led by 22. Carroll scored all of his points in the opening half, going 4 of 6 outside the stripe.
The Hawks eclipsed their previous high for points, 127 in a victory over Cleveland on Dec. 17. The previous high for assists was 41 by the Los Angeles Clippers against Brooklyn on Jan. 22.
The Hawks reached 50 wins for the first time since the 2009-10 season, when they finished 53-29. Atlanta got No. 50 in its 63rd game, easily the quickest it has ever reached that milestone. The previous mark came in 1993-94, when the Hawks won their 50th in the 70th game.
TIP-INS
Kings: Carl Landry got the start in place of Jason Thompson. Coach George Karl said he was merely trying to get a look at more of his players and how they mesh together. … The Kings will host the Hawks next Monday. … The Kings surrendered a season high for points. They have given up more than 50 percent shooting by their opponents in the last four games.
Hawks: Improved to 12-1 vs. Western Conference teams at Philips Arena. They start a season-high, six-game road trip next. … C Pero Antic missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle. G Jarell Eddie, on a 10-day contract, also did not dress. … The Hawks got the 12th 50-win season in franchise history, their 10th since moving to Atlanta from St. Louis in 1968. … The earliest the Hawks ever reached 50 wins on the calendar was Feb. 29, 1968, during their final season in St. Louis. It was their 73rd game, in an era when the season ended much earlier in the year.
UP NEXT
Kings: Visit Charlotte on Wednesday.
Hawks: Visit Denver on Wednesday.
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This article was written by Paul Newberry from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.
