Trae Young had 38 points and 11 assists, with Bogdan Bogdanovic’s 20 points, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a much-needed 125-104 win over the Toronto Raptors during the NBA’s Friday slate, breaking their five-game losing streak.
Young, reflecting on the team’s recent struggles, emphasized their commitment to improvement and dissatisfaction with their previous performances. Clint Capela provided 10 of his season-best 18 points in the opening quarter and grabbed 15 rebounds.
“We’re learning, we’re growing,” Young said. “We’re not satisfied with how we’ve been playing.”
Capela highlighted the importance of setting an early game tone, something he felt the team achieved effectively. Dejounte Murray contributed 17 points, helping the Hawks rebound from their recent 135-128 defeat to the Raptors.
“I really think that it was important for us to set the tone early,” Capela said. “I felt that we did that.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors Updates
The Raptors’ 104 points were the least scored against Atlanta this season, a testament to the Hawks’ strong defensive play. Coach Quin Snyder praised his team’s focus and execution of their game plan, emphasizing the collective defensive effort.
“Defensively I thought we played one of our best games tonight,” Snyder said. “Our guys were really focussed on the game plan and the things they need to do to help each other. When you play that way defensively, that’s when you get your best efforts.”
Onyeka Okongwu and Saddiq Bey each recorded double-doubles, contributing to a rare team achievement where four Hawks players posted double-doubles in the same game, a feat only achieved four times in the past 20 years by the team.
The Hawks dominated the rebounds, outperforming Toronto 55 to 32 and particularly excelling in offensive rebounds with a 16-3 advantage. This edge led to a significant 24-3 lead in second-chance points. Young, who shot 15 for 29, scored 29 points in the second half alone. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic acknowledged the team’s struggle to contain Young, citing poor communication as a key issue.
“We did not do a good job of containing him,” Rajakovic said. “Our communication was not great tonight and when you don’t have communication, it’s hard to execute any kind of coverage or any kind of defense.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors Updates
Murray’s performance included 9 assists and 7 rebounds, while Bogdanovic continued his scoring streak, reaching 20 or more points for the fifth consecutive game.
Toronto, previously effective from the three-point range, couldn’t replicate their success, shooting 10 for 31 compared to Young’s 7 for 15. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 23 points, with Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl each adding 15 points.
The Raptors, who haven’t won back-to-back games since late November and are 2-7 since, also struggled with free throws, making only 14 of 25 attempts.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors Updates
Bogdanovic’s performance included 3 for 7 from the three-point range, extending his franchise-record streak of games with at least two three-pointers to 19. The Hawks held a 59-49 lead at halftime and extended their advantage in the third quarter with Young’s 16 points, taking an 87-78 lead into the final quarter.
“Bogi is still hot, and we need him to stay that way,” Young said.
Injury updates noted that Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson were sidelined due to knee and wrist injuries, respectively. Siakam reached a career milestone, surpassing Vince Carter for the fifth-most starts in Raptors history.
The Hawks are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in their next game, while the Raptors will host the Charlotte Hornets.
