In a thrilling finish, Saddiq Bey’s last-second dunk on Trae Young’s missed shot secured a dramatic 126-125 victory for the Atlanta Hawks over the Toronto Raptors during Sunday’s NBA action.
This win came as a much-needed relief for the Hawks, breaking their four-game losing streak, while the Raptors suffered their fifth consecutive loss, notably short-handed.
Young, who had a significant role in the final play, reflected on the team’s strategy. He expressed his initial regret over a late-game turnover that led to a Raptors’ dunk by Scottie Barnes but remained focused on making amends.
“We talked about it in the huddle,” Young said. “Just try to go create and go downhill, but we needed to crash because they were going to contest my shot. We were going to have a shot at a rebound, and it worked out perfectly for us.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Saddiq Bey, Atlanta Hawks, Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors Updates
Bey’s outstanding performance included a season-high 26 points and 13 rebounds. Young also shone with 30 points and 12 assists despite the Hawks’ struggle from the three-point range, shooting just 22%.
“When I turned it over, I knew I was going to get a chance to help my team,” Young said. “I felt bad. I was dumb for making a mistake at the end. I should have called timeout when I didn’t have anywhere to go. It is nobody’s fault but mine.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Saddiq Bey, Atlanta Hawks, Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors Updates
Atlanta’s Clint Capela and Jalen Johnson made notable contributions, with Capela scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds and Johnson adding 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hawks coach Quin Snyder praised the team’s unity and perseverance, especially during challenging moments in the game.
“I thought we were connected tonight,” Snyder said. “It is not going to happen every night, but that doesn’t mean we can’t strive for it for 48 minutes. That is our goal, to have that type of determination and perseverance when things don’t go our way.”
The Raptors were missing key players RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl, all double-digit scorers. The absence of 7-foot-1 Poeltl was particularly noticeable, as the Hawks dominated inside, leading to a significant advantage in points in the paint and outrebounding Toronto.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Saddiq Bey, Atlanta Hawks, Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors Updates
Jordan Nwora stood out for the Raptors, scoring 24 points off the bench in only his third game since joining the Pacers.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic saw the absences as opportunities for others to step up. Scottie Barnes contributed 24 points and eight assists, while Gary Trent Jr. added 16 for Toronto.
“When this situation arises (with three starters out), it is an opportunity for another player,” Rajakovic said. “I look at it that way. We will try our best to compete in every game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Saddiq Bey, Atlanta Hawks, Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors Updates
The Hawks faced their own challenge with guard Dejounte Murray out due to hamstring soreness. Murray, averaging a career-high 21.2 points per game, had started every game this season until Sunday.
Looking ahead, the Raptors will continue their road trip against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, while the Hawks are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers on the same day.
