NBA News Wire
Raptors 104, Hawks 83
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
TORONTO — Guard DeMar DeRozan scored 14 of his 31 points in the third quarter as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Atlanta Hawks 104-83 on Wednesday for their second consecutive win.
The Raptors (28-24) improved to 9-2 at home since Jan. 1 while handing the Hawks (25-26) their fifth consecutive loss.
Guard Kyle Lowry added 16 points, 13 assists and six rebounds for the Raptors. Forward Patrick Patterson contributed 14 points and six rebounds, guard/forward Terrence Ross scored 13 points and Greivis Vasquez had 12 coming off the bench. Center Jonas Valanciunas grabbed 14 rebounds and had two points.
Center Gustavo Ayon led the Hawks with 18 points and 10 rebounds while forward Paul Millsap added 17 points, guard Jeff Teague scored 13 and forward Cartier Martin came off the bench to score 10. Guard/forward Kyle Korver, who extended his NBA record to 120 games with at least one 3-pointer, finished with eight points.
The Raptors snapped a five-game losing streak to the Hawks at Air Canada Centre. Their previous home win over the Hawks was on March 17, 2010.
The Raptors scored the first seven points of the third quarter to stretch a one-point halftime lead to eight. The lead never dropped below five after that and, when Lowry closed out the third by making one of two free throws, the Raptors led 78-65.
Vasquez opened the scoring in the fourth quarter with a driving layup and forward Steve Novak hit a 3-pointer to give the Raptors an 83-65 lead. The lead reached 21 points after a 3-pointer by Vasquez with 7:15 to play. Novak’s 3-pointer bumped the lead to 25.
The Raptors, who trailed by as many as eight points early, took their first lead, 29-28, with 5:26 to play in the first half on two free throws by DeRozan. A turnaround jumper by DeRozan increased the lead to three points. After the Hawks regained a three-point lead, the Raptors led 45-44 at the half.
NOTES: Atlanta F DeMarre Carroll (left hamstring) was not in the lineup after straining his hamstring in the Hawks’ 100-85 loss to the Bulls in Chicago on Tuesday. G Lou Williams started at shooting guard to allow G/F Kyle Korver to move to small forward in place of Carroll against the Raptors. … Toronto was without F Amir Johnson (right ankle) for the second game in a row. F Patrick Patterson again started in his place. Patterson scored 22 points in his first start as a Raptor in a 108-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday. … The Raptors resume play after the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Washington against the Wizards. … The Hawks return from the break with a Tuesday road game against the Indiana Pacers.
