Hawks vs Bulls final score: Atlanta sinks to new low with 97-58 loss

There are bad losses and then there are those that are downright scary. Atlanta's 97-58 loss to Chicago Bulls definitely falls into the scary column. The Hawks set team records for fewest points in a quarter with five and in a half with 20.

Atlanta led 13-12 with 6:37 remaining in the first quarter and then were outscored 36-7 over the final 18 minutes of the half to trail 48-20. Things didn't improve much in the second half as Atlanta managed just 38 points while allowing the Bulls 49.

Things turned chippy in the second half as Devin Harris was hit with a flagrant foul on a Kirk Hinrich drive to the basket. Hinrich crashed hard into the photographers under the basket and was quickly restrained by teammates. Jeff Teague was later whistled for a technical foul and Josh Smith got one after scoring a layup and flinging the ball in the direction of referee Ken Mauer. Harris and Smith could be hearing from the league before Atlanta's next game on Wednesday.

Carlos Boozer led the Bulls with 20 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. Luol Deng added 18 points on 7-9 shooting. Mike Scott picked up 10 points in the second half to lead the Hawks. Kyle Korver and Josh Smith finished with nine points each.

Atlanta hit just 29 percent of its field goal attempts and was destroyed on the boards by a 59-39 margin. Turnovers hampered the Hawks early as 12 of their 15 came in the first half.

The Hawks have now lost six of its last seven games and is showing no signs of snapping out of the funk that has plagued them over the last couple of weeks. Larry Drew has pleaded for more energy and shuffled his starting lineup to no avail.

Up next for the Hawks is the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in what will be Joe Johnson's first trip back to Philips Arena since being traded during the offseason.

For more on this game be sure to check out Blog a Bull