2015 NBA scores: The Hawks are still elite in the East and 3 other things we learned

The Atlanta Hawks aren't ready to give up their tag as one of the Eastern Conference's elite just yet. After an embarrassing playoff exit and a few free agency losses, the Hawks seemed vulnerable heading into the 2015-16 campaign despite winning 61 games last season. But facing a Miami Heat team trying to establish itself as a challenger to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Hawks took care of business, winning 98-92.

Jeff Teague led a balanced Hawks attack, scoring 26 points and dishing out nine assists en route to the win. Hassan Whiteside had 23 points and 14 rebounds and Dwyane Wade added 21 points for the Heat.

In the 2015 NBA Playoffs, the Hawks looked nothing like the team that won 60 games in the regular season. They made it to the Eastern Conference finals, but their offense was a shell of its former self as they were swept by the Cavs. The Hawks had been exposed, and throughout the offseason it was easy to dismiss the Hawks as a threat, especially after they lost DeMarre Carroll to the Toronto Raptors in free agency. The loss to the Detroit Pistons in the season opener didn't help.

Teague led four starters who scored in double figures, and Al Horford had 17 points and 13 boards. Atlanta's offense wasn't as crisp as it was when the Hawks were at their best last season. In fact, they hit only 7-of-21 shots from behind the arc. Kyle Korver, who hit 49 percent from deep last year was only 1-of-6 from three-point land and is just 5-of-20 on the season. Teams are defending Korver well, but it's a good sign for the Hawks that they're still winning despite his poor start to the season. A lot of credit should be given to coach Mike Budenholzer, who had the Hawks ready defensively against the Heat, holding them to 5-of-28 from deep.

Unlike the Hawks, the Heat -- a trendy pick to give the Cavaliers a run for their money -- haven't asserted themselves as a team to beat. At 2-2, this isn't a time to panic, but their so-so performances against the Hawks and the Cavaliers leave room to improve. The difference on Tuesday night was the play of Chris Bosh, who had just nine points on 4-of-14 shooting (he did grab 14 rebounds). The Heat have the tools, they just need to bring them together.

Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors are ready to make a jump in the East. The Raptors are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history, and they've looked good getting there. In their 102-91 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, they pulled away in the fourth quarter thanks to some big shots from Luis Scola and DeMar DeRozan, but mostly because of the play of Lowry. He ended the night with 27 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and hitting 4-of-5 from deep. Lowry has been solid all season, averaging 19.8 points and eight assists per game, but it's his efficiency that's making the biggest difference for the Raptors. He is shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from deep. If Lowry is continues to play like an elite NBA point guard, the Raptors are going to be a tough out.

The Detroit Pistons' depth is going to keep them from being elite. The Pistons lost an ugly game against the Indiana Pacers, 94-82, and the culprit was primarily their bench. The Pacers had no problem exposing the Pistons' major flaw -- their bench outscored Detroit's, 43-2. Andre Drummond was great for the Pistons with a monstrous stat line of 25 points and 29 rebounds, but when he, Reggie Jackson or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were off the court, the Pistons had no one to step up. Look at these +/- stats (from NBA.com):

Winless teams were eager for wins tonight, except for the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pacers didn't look like a winless team picking up their first win against the Pistons, and neither did the Charlotte Hornets nor Orlando Magic. The Hornets obliterated the Chicago Bulls, 130-105 after hitting 14-of-23 from behind the arc. The Magic, meanwhile, got out in front of the Pelicans and always had an answer whenever the Pelicans inched close in their 103-94 win. Evan Fournier had 30 points and Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and 13 rebounds in the win.

The Pelicans, on the other hand, still can't find a spark. It has only been four games, but so far the defense -- expected to be much improved by assistant coach Darren Erman -- has been lackluster, and Anthony Davis hasn't looked like the freak of nature he's capable of being. Sure, the Pelicans haven't had the best luck with injuries so far, but they need to start playing coherent basketball. The rest of the Western Conference isn't waiting up.

Julius Randle left the game in the second quarter after getting poked in the eye. He returned wearing Horace Grant-like glasses. Then he did this. The Lakers might not be any good -- they lost 120-109 to the Denver Nuggets -- but Randle is quite the player. He finished the night with 16 points and five rebounds.

Grizzlies 103, Kings 89 (Grizzly Bear Blues recap | Sactown Royalty recap)