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Barnes’ late heroics propel Raptors past Hawks in close contest

Scottie Barnes led the Toronto Raptors to a narrow 122-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night, delivering 25 points, including a crucial basket in the final minute. The win marked Toronto’s second road victory of the season as they improved to 12-32.

Bruce Brown contributed 18 points off the bench, while Jakob Poeltl and Chris Boucher added 17 each in a well-rounded team performance. Grady Dick and RJ Barrett also provided valuable support with 15 points apiece, as the Raptors secured their fourth win in five games.

The Hawks, now 22-22, had a chance to force overtime in the final seconds, but Onyeka Okongwu’s three-point attempt at the buzzer missed the mark. Atlanta has now lost three consecutive games, struggling to find consistency after returning from a lengthy road trip.

Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had been in a shooting slump, broke out with 23 points, connecting on three of his five three-point attempts. Dyson Daniels also shone for Atlanta, posting 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

Toronto held a double-digit lead for most of the first half. Their 58.0% shooting from the field and a solid 42.9% accuracy from beyond the arc allowed them to withstand Atlanta’s late-game surge.

Hawks forward Jalen Johnson exited the game in the second quarter after injuring his left shoulder during a foul on Barnes. The injury adds to Johnson’s ongoing shoulder troubles, as he was already dealing with right shoulder inflammation. He left the court after logging just under 11 minutes of play.

Okongwu was a standout for Atlanta, tallying 19 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists while also going 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. Trae Young contributed 18 points and 13 assists, but his struggles from three-point range (2-of-8) hampered the Hawks’ offensive rhythm.

Toronto’s bench provided a significant boost, with Brown and Boucher combining for 35 points. Kelly Olynyk added 11 points and five assists, playing a key role in sustaining the Raptors’ lead during critical stretches.

Atlanta’s shooting struggles persisted, with the team hitting only 35.1% of their three-point attempts despite a late push. Their bench production, led by Bogdanovic and Dominick Barlow, helped keep the game close, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

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