Raptors pummel Hawks, extend win streak to 6 games

TORONTO, Canada – DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry combined for 38 points as the Toronto Raptors routed the Atlanta Hawks 128-84 on Saturday to stretch their winning streak to a season-best 6 games.

Lowry also had 8 assists and Patrick Patterson tallied 17 points for Toronto who moved into a tie with Cleveland for first place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

It was the sixth loss in a row for the Hawks (10-11), who also have dropped 9 of their last 10 games.

The Raptors (14-6) led by as many as 21 points during the first half, were ahead by 15 points at halftime and by 16 after 3 quarters before running away with the contest in the fourth quarter.

Pascal Siakam contributed 12 points and DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph each had 10 for the Raptors.

Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardaway each scored 15 points for the Hawks, whose biggest lead was 5 points. Dwight Howard and Kris Humphries both had 10 points.

Howard said the Hawks have been blaming each other during the losing skid.

“We just have to stop getting frustrated at each other. We need to get out of our own heads,” he said.

There were only two lead changes and 3 ties in the game.

A dunk by Lucas Nogueira gave Toronto a 23-point lead with just under 10 minutes remaining.

The Raptors got the lead to 34 with 5:57 to play on a three-pointer by Terrence Ross, who finished with 15 points.

Ross then hit a field goal to give Toronto a 38-point lead and Siakam’s dunk extended the lead to 44 late in the game. – Rappler.com