ATLANTA – The Toronto Raptors achieved their third consecutive victory, which is a season-best, by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 117-94 on Saturday night. Scottie Barnes led the charge, contributing 24 points and 11 rebounds to the win.
Joining Barnes in the offensive effort were RJ Barrett and Chris Boucher, who each tallied 23 points. The Raptors had previously edged the Hawks 122-119 in their last meetup on Thursday, enhancing their momentum heading into this game.
For Atlanta, Vit Krejci was the top scorer with 20 points, while Trae Young added 16 points. Notably, Young, who leads the NBA in assists, failed to register a single assist through the first three quarters before finishing the night with four assists.
Several observations emerged from the matchup. The Raptors’ offensive prowess shone through as Barrett, Barnes, and Boucher combined for a whopping 70 points, proving to be the backbone of their scoring. On the other side, the Hawks’ injury woes continued as they added Jalen Johnson to an already lengthy list of sidelined players. Johnson, who was injured during Thursday’s game, was joined by De’Andre Hunter, who was out due to illness, and rookie Zaccharie Risacher, who remained unavailable with a left adductor strain, further complicating Atlanta’s offensive strategies.
The game’s turning point came after a competitive start. Atlanta initially took a lead of 27-22 in the first quarter, but during the second, they struggled, shooting just 32%. In contrast, Toronto seized the opportunity, outscoring the Hawks 33-21 during that period with an impressive 54% shooting percentage.
In terms of statistics, the Raptors bounced back from a lackluster first quarter by maintaining shooting percentages of 54% in both the second and third quarters. They also excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 50% of their three-point attempts during that same stretch.
Looking ahead, both teams are scheduled to return to the court on Monday night. The Raptors will host the New Orleans Pelicans, while the Hawks will travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves.
