Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - Shareef Abdur-Rahim had a game-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the
Atlanta Hawks held off a late surge to defeat the
Los Angeles Lakers, 95-83, at Staples Center. Jason Terry also chipped in 21 points as the Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak.
Ira Newble and Glenn Robinson each netted 14 points as the Hawks concluded their five-game road trip (2-3).
The Lakers played without All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal for the eighth straight game. O'Neal had originally planned to return for this game, but his big right toe is still not 100 percent. The center hopes to return to the lineup for next Tuesday's contest at Dallas.
Kobe Bryant led LA with 21 points on 8-of-22 shooting from the field. Brian Shaw scored 17, while Rick Fox chipped in 12 points for the Lakers, who have lost four straight games for the first time since 1994-95. lost four straight games for the first time since 1994-95.
The Lakers opened the fourth quarter on a 13-4 run, keyed by Shaw's three- pointer, and got within 77-75 with 7:12 remaining. But the Lakers did not get any closer the rest of the way, as the Hawks scored 13 of the next 18 points.
Atlanta extended to a 90-80 lead with 2:25 to play on a slam dunk by Newble, and was never threatened again.
The first quarter was tightly-contested as neither team led by more than four points. The Hawks took a 21-17 advantage after Emanual Davis hit a baseline jumper with 1:17 remaining, which turned out to be the final points in the frame.
The Hawks maintained the lead for the majority of the second period, leading by as many as seven at 43-36. The Lakers got within three late in the half, but two Abdur-Rahim free throws in the final two seconds gave Atlanta a 45-40 halftime cushion.
Abdur-Rahim led all scorers with 20 first-half points, while Bryant was the only Laker in double figures with 11. Samaki Walker led everyone with 10 boards in the first 24 minutes.
Atlanta came out on fire to start the second half. The Hawks began the first 2:08 on a 12-0 run to grab a 57-40 advantage. LA got as close as 11 and that was the deficit after three quarters, 73-62.
Robinson pulled down 12 boards, and Theo Ratliff hauled in 11 rebounds and contributed eight points.
