ATLANTA -- The matchup of the Eastern Conference's top teams turned into rout as Toronto opened the second half of the season with a surprisingly lopsided 105-80 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Lou Williams had 26 points while making seven of 10 3-pointers and DeMar DeRozan had 21 points for Toronto. The Raptors outscored the Hawks 28-13 in the third quarter to turn a close game into a 23-point lead.
The Raptors won with defence. Williams had four of Toronto's 15 steals and the Raptors blocked nine shots.
Atlanta still has a 5 1/2-game lead over Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings, but the Raptors won the season series 3-1. No other team has two wins over the Hawks.
The Hawks have lost four of seven following a team-record 19-game winning streak.
Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague had only 11 points each to lead Atlanta.
The Hawks and Raptors set team records for wins before the All-Star break, and neither team made moves before Thursday's trade deadline. Toronto backed up that show of confidence in the final regular-season meeting of the teams.
The Raptors stretched their 49-45 halftime lead with a dominant third quarter. Atlanta made only three of 19 shots. Korver had a dismal period, missing all five of his shots while committing two turnovers.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer turned the game over to backups such as Mike Muscala, John Jenkins and Shelvin Mack for much of the final period.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Blocked five shots and had seven steals in the third quarter. ... DeRozan scored Toronto's first six points and had 17 points in the first half. ... The eight days between games marked the longest All-Star break in team history. ... The game started nine of 11 road contests for the Raptors. ... The last time Toronto won a season series over Atlanta was in the 2007-08 season.
Hawks: Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Rep. John Lewis, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Mayor Andrew Young were part of a halftime ceremony honouring heroes of the Civil Rights movement as part of Black History Month. ... Atlanta had 22 turnovers, one shy of its season high. ... F Thabo Sefolosha missed his eighth straight game with a right calf strain. ...
UP NEXT
Raptors: At Houston on Saturday
Hawks: At Milwaukee on Sunday
