Hawks hand Cavs 1st loss in 5 months

The NBA's last unbeaten team finally fell on Tuesday night, as the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers lost for the first time since Game 4 of the Finals five months ago.

After a 6-0 start ran their cumulative winning streak to nine games, the Cavs finally ran into the Atlanta Hawks' buzzsaw.

Behind terrific performances from their starting backcourt of Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore, and with help from some uncharacteristically icy shooting from the Cavs, the Hawks ran out to a big lead, then held off a furious late rally to preserve a 110-106 win.

The Cavs' 6-0 start was the best in franchise history and of LeBron James' career. The Hawks had lost 11 straight against Cleveland coming in.

To end the skid, they had to overcome a ghastly turnover differential (they committed 19 while forcing just six), but got bailed out by a Cavs team that couldn't buy a 3-ball and clanked plenty of open looks.

Meanwhile, Schroder roasted Kyrie Irving (save for a couple notable instances), bobbing and weaving, and pull-up jump shooting his way to 28 points on 10-of-16 from the field, chipping in a game-high six assists. Bazemore, who's gotten off to a woeful start in the first season of a four-year, $70-million deal, finally found his stroke in this one, pouring in 25 of his own while shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 4-of-6 from 3-point range.