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The Atlanta Hawks finished a four-game home game with a game against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night at State Farm Arena. As the Hawks came into the night on a three-game losing streak, the team put together a solid effort, outlasting the Raptors by a final score of 132-121.
While the Hawks put on a great offensive first half, Atlanta actually started off slow, converting just 1 in 5 from the floor with two turnovers. The first bucket was a beauty, however, with Trae Young finding Clint Capela with a long distance pass.
Atlanta’s defense was shaky, but the offense heated up, scoring 19 points in under six minutes and making seven of eight shots at one point. The Hawks held off an 8-0 Raptors run and, before the starters made it to the bench, the team’s passes were excellent.
Then the second unit took over with good results. First, the great rookie Onyeka Okongwu returned after a week of absence with a dunk at the start of the second quarter.
The passing theme continued with the reservists, as the movement of the ball was a tangible force. That altruism, coupled with searing shots, allowed the Hawks to regain the lead behind contributions from Solomon Hill and Tony Snell.
Much of the rest of the half was back and forth, with the Hawks taking a three-point advantage at half-time. The Atlanta offense scored evenly, with six players producing at least eight points, and the Hawks shot 55 percent from the floor and 10 of 20 three-pointers with 17 assists. On the other end of the spectrum, the Raptors managed to score effectively on their own, negating Atlanta’s electricity somewhat offensively and keeping things competitive.
The third quarter was a scoreline for both sides, but the period tilted in Atlanta’s favor. The home side generated three consecutive defensive saves to open the second half, using that to generate a 7-0 run and take a 10-point lead. As the Raptors responded, the Hawks had one more kick, leading by as many as 11 points in the period.
After Toronto made an effort to keep things close, Young connected on a (very) deep three point to stem the tide, and he scored 11 points over the quarter.
With 101 points in three quarters, the offense was buzzing, but there was still work to be done. The fourth quarter took on a much different tone from the rest of the game, with a slowed-down pace and an emerging defense. Still, Atlanta managed to hold the line, leading by nine points with three minutes remaining.
From there, Young was called up for an offensive foul, causing Lloyd Pierce a technical foul, presumably for arguing against the whistle. Then the Raptors connected on a three point, squeezing the margin. After the two teams alternated defensive saves, Young found Capela for a dunk to reduce the margin to seven at 121-114. The Raptors were quick to respond but, after John Collins buried two free throws, the Hawks led 123-116 with 1:25 left.
Then Capela generated a blocked shot to keep the margin at seven and, after a timeout, Kevin Huerter effectively put the game aside with a three-point dagger with less than a minute left. From there, everything went smoothly on the way to an 11-point victory.
Atlanta’s offense was balanced and efficient throughout the night, with six players scoring in double digits. As often, Young led the way with 28 points and 13 assists, with Capela producing 23 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in the game. Elsewhere, Collins (19 points, seven rebounds, three blocks), Huerter (19 points, 5 of 8 of three) and Gallinari (14 points, five rebounds, four assists) played at a high level, with the Hawks losing defensively. in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.
The Hawks will now recharge with a three-day break before facing the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Stay tuned.
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