The Hawks led the Toronto Raptors from start to finish at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night. On the second night of a back-to-back, Atlanta came out with more energy than the Raptors, who ended a six-game homestand tonight.
Dejounte Murray led the Hawks out of the gate early with 10-first quarter points, as they built a commanding 18-2 lead. Atlanta’s stifling defense forced the Raptors to shoot 1-13 to begin the contest. Toronto pushed back with a 12-2 run late in the opening frame to cut the lead to 28-20, but the Hawks weathered the storm and entered the next frame leading 34-25.
Atlanta kept Toronto in the rearview maintaining a consistent double-digit lead throughout the second quarter. Jalen Johnson provided an energizing spark off the bench with an emphatic throw-down after Murray stole Scottie Barnes’ pass to ignite the fast-break. With over three minutes to go until halftime, Trae Young baited a pass from Raptors’ star, Pascal Siakam, and threw a perfect lob to Murray who slammed it down with authority, silencing the Toronto crowd. This play put the Hawks up 60-47, and Atlanta closed out the second quarter firmly to maintain a 69-57 lead at halftime. Murray collected 18 points, 5 assists and 5 boards, while Young added 17 of his own for a combined 35 points for the Hawks’ All-Star backcourt in the first-half. Barnes and Siakam led the way for the Raptors with 13 and 11 respectively, but Fred VanVleet really struggled, going scoreless before the second-half.
Atlanta continued its dominance in the third quarter extending the lead to 17 points. However, after a 9-2 Raptors run to make it 79-69, the Hawks needed a boost offensively and got it from rookie sharpshooter A.J. Griffin. He knocked down a mid-ranger and two consecutive three’s to bring Atlanta’s lead to 16. Young hit a 30-foot step-back three to silence the crowd and send the game into the final frame with Atlanta leading 96-79.
It seemed the Hawks would run away with this game, but the Raptors cut the lead to 109-102 with 2:23 remaining. Chris Boucher scored all his 13 points in the final frame to send the fans inside Scotiabank Arena into a frenzy. However, Atlanta clamped down on defense and Toronto did not make another field goal in the final two minutes, sealing the victory.
The All-Star backcourt of Murray and Young combined for 56 points. Murray finished with 27 points, 8 boards and 6 assists, while Young totaled 29 points and 9 assists. De’Andre Hunter continued to knock down shots from beyond the arc, going 3-5 from deep for 11 points, and Onykea Okongwu followed up his career night against the Pacers with a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double. Collins added 11, while Griffin and Johnson provided the bench scoring with 13 and 9, respectively.
For Toronto, Barnes led the way with an impressive 27 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals. Siakam often dominates the Hawks in the paint, but Atlanta held him to just 5-16 shooting for 15 points, 7 boards and 6 assists. O.G. Anunoby added 14 points, while VanVleet managed just 3 points. Precious Achiuwa gave Toronto 14 off the bench to go along with Boucher’s 13-point, fourth-quarter barrage.
With this impressive win, the Hawks won back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 16 and 19. Atlanta has no plans on slowing down and will look to make it three in a row, as they travel back home to face the Miami Heat on Monday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
