In full “road trip”, the Hawks go to Toronto after their defeat in Milwaukee. Not a gift, even if Fred VanVleet, embarrassed by his back, is not on the ground for the start of the match.
It is therefore Scottie Barnes who is in charge of the game for the Raptors, and the Rookie of the Year connects the 3-pointers to launch his team, which takes a ten-point lead (34-24). But the Hawks pick up several times. In the second quarter, but also in the third quarter, while Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes had nevertheless allowed the locals to conclude the first half (64-53) on a 16-4.
The third acceleration will be good for Toronto, which takes advantage of the bad evening of Trae Young, both in terms of address (3/13) and loss of ball (10) to chain the counter-attacks.
The gap swells and reaches downright +35, before finishing at +30 for Nick Nurse’s troops (139-109).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The stature and physical pressure of the Raptors. As we know, the Raptors like players with size and stature, capable of defending in several positions. This game illustrated why so much physical impact from Scottie Barnes and company hampered the Hawks, who lost a lot of quick balls that turned into fast baskets. 43 points scored on counterattack for Toronto, against 7 for Atlanta…
– A locker room meeting for the Hawks. Taking such a spanking is not pleasant, and Dejounte Murray revealed that the Hawks met in the locker room just after the game to discuss the problems seen in this meeting in Canada. A discussion “productive”according to the former San Antonio player.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Pascal Siakam. He sometimes forced a little, as in the third quarter when he finished at 1/7 in shooting, but the Cameroonian was still monstrous in activity to put pressure on the opposing defense. His final line of stats (31 points at 8/21, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks) is very good. For his teammate Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam also deserves to be in the discussion for the MVP.
✅ Scottie Barnes. The sophomore first chained the 3-pointers, but it was in his ability to place his teammates in good conditions, especially on the small pick-and-roll, that he impressed. While putting pressure on Trae Young, he finished the game with 21 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.
⛔ Trae Young. The Atlanta point guard has a risky game, and when he is too loose, against an aggressive defense that has so much scope, it can weigh on his team. He scored 14 points at 3/13 shooting, with 10 assists but also 10 stray bullets. And the worst +/- (-29) of the game.
THE FOLLOWING
Toronto (4-3): meet in San Antonio, Wednesday evening (01:00)
Atlanta (4-3): end of the “road trip” in New York, also Wednesday evening (12:30 a.m.)
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