ATLANTA — George Karl might be wondering if he made the right choice to return to the sideline.
The Atlanta Hawks blasted Karl’s Sacramento Kings 130-105 Monday at Philips Arena. The loss was Sacramento’s fourth straight, and it was embarrassing.
The Hawks, who were coming off their own embarrassing defeat to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers, had 42 assists on 53 field goals, made 20 3-pointers and shot 60.2 percent from the floor.
The Hawks had 100 points with three minutes left in the third quarter after point guard Jeff Teague drained a 3-pointer. All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures, led by forward DeMarre Carroll and guard Kyle Korver, who each finished with 20. Teague added 18 points and 13 assists.
The Kings lagged on defense, surrendering open shots to the Hawks’ sharp-shooters. Korver made six 3-pointers, and Carroll hit four treys, most of the wide-open variety. Korver and Carroll each sank three 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Hawks jumped out to a 33-20 lead.
Pelicans 114, Bucks 103
MILWAUKEE — Anthony Davis set a new career high with 43 points as New Orleans held off Milwaukee at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Davis was dominant in all phases of his game. He hit 17 of 23 shots and nine of 11 free throw attempts while grabbing eight rebounds with six assists and a pair of blocked shots.
Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo hit 11 of 16 shots and finished with a career-high 29 points. He was one of three players to score in double figures for the Bucks, who shot 52 percent but were just 4-for-15 from beyond the 3-point arc and turned the ball over 14 times.
Wizards 95, Hornets 69
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Center Marcin Gortat scored 20 points on 9 of 11 shooting, and Washington rolled to an easy win.
The Wizards were dominant early and led by as many as 19 points in the first half, then pushed the margin to 26 at the end.
Washington shot 51.8 percent from the field overall after going 16-for-23 (69.6 percent) in the first quarter.
Grizzlies 101, Bulls 91
CHICAGO — Marc Gasol led all scorers with 23 points to spearhead Memphis’s victory over Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
Gasol’s older brother, Pau Gasol, scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Chicago, which was his NBA-leading 43rd double-double and tied his career high set in 2010-11 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jeff Green added 19 points, Zach Randolph scored 16 points and Tony Allen finished with 11 points for Memphis, which hasn’t lost in Chicago since Jan. 1, 2012. Guard Tony Snell led the Bulls with 21 points, rookie forward Nikola Mirotic scored 18 and guard Aaron Brooks added 15 for the Bulls, who played four games in five days and lost the last three.
Celtics 100, Heat 90
MIAMI — Reserve guard Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points, and Boston taking advantage of the ejection of Miami center Hassan Whiteside, defeated the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Whiteside, who finished with seven points and nine rebounds, was tossed with 2:45 left in the third quarter after he elbowed Boston center Kelly Olynyk.
Boston won for the third time in its past four games. The Celtics trail the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers by two games in the battle for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference