John Collins had 27 points (20 in the paint) and a season-high 16 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks went on a 16-1 run that bridged the second and third quarters to beat the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers 99-94 for their eighth straight win.
The Lakers led 52-48 with 2:03 left in the second quarter. Tony Snell’s 3-pointer put the Hawks ahead for good with 11:39 left in the third quarter. Collins scored 7 points and Trae Young added 6 during the run. The Hawks led 64-53 with 7:11 left in the quarter.
For the Lakers, Montrezl Harrell had 23 points (16 in the fourth quarter) and 11 rebounds on 10 for 13 shooting off the bench. Harrell scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers forced 8 turnovers, about 6 fewer than usual for this many possessions. The Hawks’ starters outscored the Lakers 30-15 in 13 minutes together.