Pascal Siakam scored 33 points (21 in the first quarter), and the Toronto Raptors beat the Atlanta Hawks 125-114 for their fifth straight win.
The Raptors took control with a 31-5 run in the first quarter and led by as many as 18.
The Hawks got within 115-112 on Trae Young’s 20-foot step-back jumper with 3:26 to play, but Scottie Barnes answered with a driving layup, and the Hawks got no closer.
During clutch time, the Raptors outscored the Hawks 5-2.
Fred VanVleet had 26 points (15 on 5 3-pointers) and 11 assists.
For the Hawks, John Collins scored 23 points, and De'Andre Hunter added 23 points. Young had 22 points and 13 assists. The Hawks had 3 20-point scorers.
The Raptors shot 56.8% from the field and 63.0% from 3 to the Hawks’ 46.2% and 31.0%. The Raptors’ starters outscored the Hawks 55-41 in 21 minutes together.