How the game was won: Paul Millsap scored 29 points and Jeff Teague added a season-high 23 over the final three quarters, but the Hawks dug themselves a hole too deep to climb out of with their second straight horrendous defensive first half on the way to falling the dreadful Lakers (2-9).

Atlanta (5-5) lost its second straight game after trailing 67-52 at halftime and surrendering 61.4 percent shooting over the first two quarters identical to the first half Saturday when the Cavs took a 71-43 halftime lead on the way to a 127-94 win over the Hawks.

Turning point: A template was set in the first quarter when the Lakers' starting backcourt of Kobe Bryant (29 total points) and Jeremy Lin (15) outscored Atlanta's starting backcourt of Teague and Kyle Korver 19-0.

Number: 13. Millsap scored 13 of the Hawks' first 15 points, but his jumper with 4:27 left in the first quarter gave Atlanta its last lead at 15-13.

Next: The Hawks will stay in town to prepare for Friday's home game against the Pistons. Then, after three days off, a game in Washington.

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Assistant coach Lloyd Pierce (left) talks with guard Tyrese Haliburton during the third quarter of Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals. The Pacers largely have leaned on Pierce’s offensive expertise since he joined the team in 2021. (Frank Franklin II/AP)

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