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Note to Eastern Conference contenders: Ignore Atlanta at your peril. The Hawks are afterthoughts of the Southeast Division no more.

Gradually improving in each of the past four seasons, Atlanta delivered a statement game Monday, handing the Heat its first loss of the season and handcuffing the Heat offensively at AmericanAirlines Arena. One night after winning by 39 points, the Heat lost to the Hawks 100-92. The Hawks (4-1) have yet to allow more than 100 points in a game this season.

LeBron James led the Heat (5-1) with 28 points on 11-of-18 shooting but didn't receive much help from Dwyane Wade, who was 4 of 17 from the field for 12 points. Wade added 10 assists, but it wasn't enough to crack the Hawks' zone defense.

The Heat jumped to an 18-8 lead in the first quarter, but when the Hawks switched to zone it effectively put the brakes on Miami's fast-break offense. The Heat entered Monday leading the league in fast-break points but scored just 10 on the break against the Hawks.

"It affected us and our concentration from that point on," Spoelstra said of the Hawks' switch to zone in the first quarter. "We will get better. ... This is something that we need to have a breakthrough with."

Normally aggressive and attacking, the Heat settled for difficult shots in what Wade called a "passive" approach to offense. The Heat was 5 of 13 from three-point range, including 0 of 3 from Chris Bosh. Bosh finished with 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field.