C's crumble in 2OT as skid hits 6

ESPN Boston:  ATLANTA -- Kyle Korver said the Hawks owed the Celtics a big comeback.

This one was really big.

Korver scored 27 points, most on 3-pointers, and Atlanta overcame a 27-point deficit in the first half to beat Boston 123-111 in double-overtime on Friday night, handing the Celtics their sixth straight loss.

Boston's biggest lead came in the second quarter. Korver remembered the Hawks led by 19 points, also in the second period, before the Celtics rallied for an 89-81 win in Atlanta on Jan. 5."We had a good example of how to come back from what they did to us the last time," Korver said.

Jeff Teague had 23 points for Atlanta before fouling out in the first overtime. Al Horford had 24 points -- including seven in the second overtime -- and 13 rebounds. Josh Smith, who opened the second overtime with a three-point play, had 17 points and 14 rebounds.

The Celtics (20-23) fell three games under .500.

"It's definitely a tough pill to swallow," Paul Pierce said. "We've got to have some sort of discipline. That's the key word for us. It is cause for concern. We've got to come in with the mindset to play for 48 minutes."

Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 10 rebounds but fouled out in the second overtime as the Celtics were left with their longest losing streak in six years.

Rajon Rondo had 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his fifth triple-double of the season.

"We had a chance to put this game away, man. We didn't do that," Garnett said. "We gave a team life. You can't do that.

"Korver came out, obviously got hot, and we couldn't turn it off."

Korver had all of his career-high eight 3-pointers in the second half, setting a franchise record, and five in the fourth quarter.

"When you make some shots, all of a sudden you get better screens and you get better passes," Korver said.