Korver, Hawks humble Kings

ATLANTA – The Hawks gave Kyle Korver the weekend off, hoping it would help him break out of his shooting slump.

Boy, did it ever.

And the rest of the team came along for the ride.

Korver and DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 points as Atlanta 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.

Korver went 6 of 8 from 3-point range and the Hawks set a franchise record by going 20 of 36, breaking the mark of 19 set against Dallas on Dec. 17, 1996.

“I didn’t know we hit 20,” Korver said. “That’s a big number.”

Resting Korver and two other 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 after going 17 of 54 from long range since the All-Star break, dropping him below 50 percent on the year. He didn’t pick up a basketball for two days, a jarring break in his routine.

“I had to get my head right,” he said.

In Milwaukee, Anthony Davis said he’s trying not to do anything outside his comfort zone as he works to improve his game.

He looked comfortable – and dominant – doing everything Monday night.

Davis poured in 43 points, tying a career high, while pulling down 10 boards and dishing out six assists in helping the New Orleans Pelicans pull away for a 114-103 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I just tried to come out aggressive and make everyone around me better. And when the opportunity was there to score, I just tried to,” said Davis, who made 17 of 23 shots.

Pelicans coach Monty Williams had high praise for his young star.

“He’s doing it against double-teams, in transition. A couple times he got fouled on his jump shot and he didn’t let it bother him,” Williams said. “He had 43 against a really good defensive team.”

A good defensive team that had no answer for Davis.

“When he’s hitting his jump shot like you saw tonight, he’s a tough cover,” Bucks center John Henson said.

Milwaukee took a 101-100 lead, its first since the opening quarter, with 3:35 remaining on a runner by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Davis, who recorded his third career 40-point game, then scored eight consecutive points as New Orleans closed the game on a 14-2 run.

In other results, Washington dumped Charlotte, 95-69; Boston trounced Miami, 100-90; Memphis subdued Chicago, 101-91; Denver routed New York, 106-78; Golden State clobbered Phoenix, 98-80; and the Los Angeles Clippers smothered the Minnesota Timberwolves, 89-76.

Back in Atlanta, all five Hawks’ starters were in double figures, and Dennis Schroder chipped in with 12 off the bench. The Hawks made 53 of 88 (60 percent), taking advantage of one of the league’s worst defensive teams.

“We’ll pass up a good shot to get a great shot,” said Carroll, who scored all of his points in the first half, connecting on 4 of 6 from outside the stripe. “When you have guys that don’t care about the glory, this is the result.”

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 and the most by the Hawks since 1993. Jeff Teague led the way with 13 assists, to go along with 18 points.

“That’s Hawks basketball,” said Al Horford, who also had 18 points.

Rudy Gay scored 23 points as the Kings lost their fourth in a row.

The Hawks topped off the first half 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. Teague missed the free throw to cap a three-point play, but not much else went wrong for Atlanta.

“They’re great. It’s fun to watch, tough to play against,” Gay said. “It’s textbook. It’s what every team wants to be.”

The Hawks eclipsed their previous season high for points, 127 in a victory over Cleveland on Dec. 17. The previous high for assists by any team was 41 by the Los Angeles Clippers against Brooklyn on Jan. 22.

Atlanta reached 50 wins for the first time since 2010, when it finished 53-29. The Hawks got No. 50 in their 63rd game, easily the quickest they have ever reached that milestone. The previous mark came in 1993-94, when the Hawks won their 50th in the 70th game.             (AP)