Yet Los Angeles dominated from the start, handing the Hawks their most lopsided loss since a 132-85 defeat at Philadelphia on Dec. 8, 1982.
The Lakers were up 34-7 by the end of the first quarter and 57-28 at halftime. The seven points were the fewest in the first quarter for the Hawks since they moved to Atlanta in 1968. The 28 points matched an Atlanta first-half low.
Clippers 78, Raptors 68
In Toronto, Elton Brand had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Chris Wilcox added 17 points and eight rebounds to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat Toronto.
Glen Rice scored 11 points for the Clippers.
Vince Carter went 5-for-18 from the field and scored just 12 points for the Raptors, who were booed off the court. Toronto's Jalen Rose had 26 points.
Raptors rookie center Chris Bosh missed the game with a strained right knee.
Bucks 103, Heat 94
In Milwaukee, Toni Kukoc scored 24 points, grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds and keyed a decisive second-period surge that propelled Milwaukee past Miami.
The Bucks have won five successive games for the first time this season. They climbed to four games over .500 (20-16) for the first time since last February and won their eighth straight home game.
Michael Redd added 18 points, Tim Thomas 15 and T. J. Ford 14 for Milwaukee.
The Heat were led by Lamar Odom's 22 points and 15 rebounds.
Trail Blazers 87, Bulls 78
In Chicago, Derek Anderson scored 19 points and Portland ended a four-game losing streak by beating Chicago.
The Trail Blazers won on the road for just the second time in 15 games this season, and did it without second-leading scorer Rasheed Wallace, who sat out with a sprained left ankle.
Dale Davis finished with 10 rebounds and had five of Portland's 11 blocked shots.
The Bulls got 21 points from Jamal Crawford.
Nuggets 106, Jazz 96
In Denver, Carmelo Anthony shook off some rough treatment by Utah to score 15 of his 27 points in the second half, helping Denver hold off the Jazz.
Utah shot just 26 percent and trailed by 19 at halftime but cut Denver's lead to 89-83 on Raul Lopez's 3-pointer with six minutes left. DeShawn Stevenson followed by hitting one of two free throws, but that was as close as the Jazz got.
Nene had 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting and Andre Miller added 18 points and seven assists for Denver.
Stevenson led Utah with 19 points, and Greg Ostertag added 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Kings 113, Suns 93
In Phoenix, Peja Stojakovic had 29 points and 12 rebounds as Sacramento spoiled new-look Phoenix's return home.
Mike Bibby had 25 points, reserve Bobby Jackson scored a season-high 24 and Brad Miller had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings. Phoenix's Joe Johnson scored 23 points, and Howard Eisley had 14.
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