Hawks at Raptors
DeMar DeRozan continues scoring in big numbers and the Toronto Raptors continue winning, bringing a four-game winning streak into Friday’s home contest against an Atlanta Hawks’ team moving in the opposite direction. DeRozan posted his 13th 30-point game of the season in Wednesday’s victory over Philadelphia, pushing Toronto 11 games above .500, while the Hawks dropped eight of 10 to fall outside of the Eastern Conference’s top eight.
DeRozan averages 28 points for a Raptors’ offense that came into Thursday third in the NBA in scoring at 111.9 per contest, and victories in 10 of the past 11 games lifted Toronto to a four-game lead over the New York Knicks in the Atlantic Division through Wednesday. “We give everyone on our team freedom to do what they do best,” Toronto guard Kyle Lowry told reporters. Atlanta’s struggles continue since opening the season 9-2, falling 131-120 at home Tuesday to Orlando for its 11th loss in the past 14 games. “I do think we are doing some things better,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters. “We need to do more things better for more of the 48 minutes.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), TSN (Toronto)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (12-13): Atlanta allowed Orlando – one of the worst-scoring teams in the NBA – to score 36 points above its average and shoot 58.6 percent from the field. Center Dwight Howard ranks among the league leaders in field-goal percentage (62.3) and rebounding (12.5). Point guard Dennis Schroder set a career high with 13 assists in the loss to Orlando, and is averaging 21.6 points on 51.9 percent shooting in his past eight games.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (18-7): The Raptors are shooting an NBA-best 44.6 percent from 3-point range in December, averaging 117.6 points per game this month. Lowry is hitting 44.2 percent of his shots from long range on the season, averaging 21.2 points and 7.3 assists per contest with a 2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. One key contributor off the bench is forward Terrence Ross, who is averaging career bests in points (11) and field-goal percentage (49.7 percent) in 19.8 minutes per game.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Atlanta G Kent Bazemore scored five points in 15 minutes Tuesday after missing the previous two games with a sore right knee.
2. Toronto reserves are shooting 52.4 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range in seven December games.
3. The Raptors lead the season series 1-0, blowing out the Hawks 128-84 on Dec. 3 in Toronto as DeRozan’s 21 points led eight players in double figures.