ATLANTA — In a thrilling contest on Thursday night, Scottie Barnes led the Toronto Raptors to a 122-119 victory against the Atlanta Hawks, marking their second road win of the season. Barnes finished the game with a strong performance, contributing 25 points, including a crucial basket in the closing minute.
The Raptors had notable contributions from Bruce Brown, who scored 18 points, while both Jacob Poeltl and Chris Boucher added 17 points each. The match was part of a two-game series taking place in Atlanta. The Hawks, despite their efforts, missed a chance to equalize in the last moments of the game. With just 2.7 seconds remaining, Onekya Okongwu attempted a three-pointer at the buzzer, which unfortunately fell short.
On the Hawks’ side, Bogdan Bogdanovic managed to bounce back from a shooting slump, netting 23 points and hitting three out of five from beyond the arc. Before this game, he had struggled significantly, missing his last 14 field goal attempts. Dyson Daniels also made a significant impact for the Hawks with 22 points, alongside eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
The Hawks are currently on a downward trajectory, having lost three consecutive games. They will face the Raptors once again on Saturday. For the Raptors, Grady Dick and RJ Barrett each contributed 15 points, helping the team secure four wins in their last five contests.
In a concerning moment for the Hawks, forward Jalen Johnson injured his left shoulder while fouling Barnes in the second quarter. He exited the game immediately and did not return. This injury adds to his recent struggle with right shoulder inflammation, which had already been affecting his performance before the game.
Key takeaways from the game include the Raptors’ strong showing early on, managing to maintain a double-digit lead for much of the first half, indicative of their improved performance this season. In contrast, the Hawks have struggled at home, losing both their initial games following a lengthy road trip and failing to recover from double-digit deficits in both encounters. Johnson’s injury is a particular concern for the Hawks as he was averaging 19.3 points and 10.2 rebounds prior to this game.
A critical moment in the match occurred when Barnes executed a challenging floater with just 55 seconds on the clock, extending the Raptors’ lead to 120-117. Notably, this victory also helped Toronto end a nine-game streak of road losses, marking a significant milestone for the team.
