The Atlanta Hawks (17-20) returned from the All-Star Break with a major Eastern Conference clash against the Toronto Raptors (17-20) on Thursday night. The Raptors came in 8th place in the Eastern classification, going to the second “half” of this shortened season of COVID; Atlanta came in 11th place.
The Raptors were losing several players, including OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Malachi Flynn and Patrick McCaw. This required the Raptors to initiate former guard Hawks DeAndre ‘Bembry. The Hawks listed Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter and Kris Dunn in the injury report for tonight’s game.
The Hawks managed to steal a victory in this roller coaster game against the exhausted Raptors. Despite rising to 19 points in the second quarter, the Hawks found themselves in a 15-point hole in the fourth quarter. But the last six hard-fought minutes led to a Tony Snell with three wins.
The Hawks started the first quarter with a 7-0 run, as Toronto seemed unable to muster any defensive resistance. The Raptors were also unable to find any offensive pace, as they left the field 2/12 (16%) in the first five minutes of the game.
Trae Young left aggressively. He missed a few deep strokes at the beginning, but he hit the nail on the head when defense went down and left him plenty of time and space.
The Raptors eventually found some offensive flow and managed to reduce the lead to 20-15 at the five-minute mark. But Atlanta remained strong and kept their foot on the gas in the attack, winning the last five minutes by 17-11.
It was beautiful.
Atlanta had a 37-26 lead in the second quarter. They shot 15/29 (51.7%) into the Raptors’ abysmal 7/23 (30.4%) in the quarter. Young led the Hawks with 11 points in the contest, with Norman Powell making 12 points for the opponent.
The Hawks started the second quarter with some strong kicks, scoring in four of the first five offensive possessions. Including this jam from the young Hawks rookie, Onyeka Okongwu.
However, they failed to generate enough stops to further expand their leadership. After a 10-0 race from Toronto, Atlanta had the same 11 point lead to a 7:16 timeout.
Things got worse for the Hawks, who scored just two points from the seven-minute mark to the five-minute mark. The Raptors went on an 18-4 run in the middle of the quarter to reduce the Hawks’ lead to 51-47 with four minutes remaining.
The two teams mainly switched buckets in the last four minutes of time. Here is a beautiful post-jump by John Collins, even if it is indicative of the type of attack that the Hawks demonstrated in the second half.
The Hawks ended the first half with just a five-point lead at 64-59, after leading by up to 19 points at the start of the second period. Young led all scorers with 20 points in the break, including nine points from the free throw line (9/12). Clint Capela contributed uniquely with 12 rebounds and four blocks. The Hawks fired just 35% (7/20) in the second quarter, while the Raptors fired 54% (13/24). Almost a complete script twist since the first quarter.
The second half started well for the Raptors, who tied the game at 73 at the 7:19 mark, evaporating the Hawks’ great advantage they had enjoyed in the second quarter. The Raptors had a 14-5 run after the Hawks took a nine-point lead in 68-59.
Once again, the two teams exchanged baskets throughout the quarter, neither side really getting the better of it. But that changed in the final three minutes of the period, when the Raptors extended a seven-point lead after an 8-1 run from the 3:56 mark.
The Raptors extended this to a ten-point lead at the end of the third quarter, 94-84. The Hawks’ shooting problems in the second quarter did not improve, as they hit 6/19 (31.5%) in the third quarter. The Raptors, in turn, continued their hot shot, going 13/24 (54.1%, again).
Each team ran their respective races to start the fourth period, but the Raptors were more powerful. Atlanta started a 7-0 run to reduce the lead to 96-91. But Toronto responded with its own 8-0 series, returning to the lead with 13, 104-91.
A 12-0 run from Atlanta starting with six minutes remaining in the fourth period left the Hawks with three points at 112-109 at the 2:25 mark. The race was started by these three from Young.
Chris Boucher hit two free throws to break the Raptors’ drought and give the team a five-point advantage in 114-109.
It was an absolute battle from this point on. The Hawks came closer and closer with difficult buckets like this tip (yes, tip) from Young, in a Collins failure in the transition.
It was a two-point game in favor of the Raptors at 120-118 with 26.9 seconds remaining. After an unfortunate bounce from Collins’ hands resulted in another offensive opportunity for the Raptors, the Hawks held on when Bembry lost a difficult float that disappeared on the track.
With 7.1 seconds remaining, the Hawks had the ball losing two points. Huerter hit Young, who entered the track, kicking Tony “Cheat Code” Snell for the game’s triple winner.
The Hawks, who led 19 and lost 15 in the fourth quarter, went back to a difficult victory over their Eastern Conference rivals, 121-120.
Young led all scorers with 37 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Huerter also had 19 points (12 points in the fourth period), and Capela contributed 18 rebounds. Atlanta hit 43.3% in the game and 50.0% (11/22) in the last frame. The Hawks won the fourth period 37-26.