Korver's long-range barrage lifts Hawks

ATLANTA, Georgia (AFP) –

Kyle Korver (L) of the Atlanta Hawks grabs a loose ball during their game against the Boston Celtics on January 25, 2013. Korver drained eight three-pointers to help the Hawks erase a 27-point deficit en route to a 123-111 double-overtime NBA victory over the Celtics.

Kyle Korver drained eight three-pointers to help the Atlanta Hawks erase a 27-point deficit en route to a 123-111 double-overtime NBA victory over the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics seemed to be on their way to snapping a five-game skid, but couldn’t hold off the Hawks, who were flying in the second half, when Korver scored 24 of his 27 points.

Their six-game losing streak is their worst since the 2006-07 season, which was the last time Boston failed to win the Atlantic Division title.

Josh Smith and Al Horford both contributed double-doubles as the Hawks overcame yet another triple-double by Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.

Rondo delivered 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his fifth triple-double of the season — and his second straight in a losing effort.

Smith and Horford scored the first eight points of the second overtime, then Devin Harris hit a driving layup to give the Hawks a 10-point lead.

Five of Korver’s three-pointers came in the fourth quarter, and it was two of them with less than three minutes remaining, followed by Horford’s free throws with one minute left that tied the game at 98-98.

They were tied 107-107 at the end of the first overtime period.

Atlanta went into the contest aiming to avenge an 89-81 loss to Boston on January 5, in which the Hawks wasted a 15-point halftime lead.

“I think we have to prove our toughness against this team,” Smith said before the game. “We’ve had our problems in the past with this team. Hopefully we can withstand any blows they bring to us.”