NBA: Atlanta Hawks rip Toronto Raptors

Stout defense by the Atlanta Hawks held the Toronto Raptors to under 20 points in three of the four quarters and 37 percent shooting overall, allowing them to rest their starters for most of the fourth quarter, in a 100-77 blowout win, Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time) at the Air Canada Centre.

 

Joe Johnson scored 30 points on 13 of 18 shooting from the field after also scoring 30 two games prior against Detroit last Friday (Saturday, PHL time), and four other Hawks finished in double-digits. 

 

The hapless Raptors were held to just 37 points at the break, but finally topped the 20-point mark with a 23-point outburst in the third that made it 77-60 with a quarter left to play.

 

But so confident were the Hawks that the team turned to their reserves for the final 12 minutes, as players like Tracy McGrady, Vladimir Radmanovic, Kirk Hinrich not only kept the lead, but extended it by the final buzzer. 

 

Jerryd Bayless led the Raptors with 14 points. Reserve big man Ed Davis added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. 

 

It was the third straight win for Atlanta, improving their record to 16-6, a half-game behind the Miami Heat in the Southeast Division, while Toronto sank to 7-15, having lost seven of their last ten games. — Adrian Dy/RSJ, GMA News