ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks came out firing on Friday night, showing energy and precision through three quarters, but a late surge from the Toronto Raptors handed them a 109–97 loss at State Farm Arena.
Atlanta controlled the pace early, feeding off the home crowd’s energy. Jalen Johnson led the charge with 21 points, attacking the rim with confidence and setting the tone on both ends. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points, while Kristaps Porziņģis chipped in 17, helping the Hawks build a 53–44
halftime lead.
The Hawks struggled on their three-pointers as they were 9-38 while shooting 23.7%. They controlled the paint as they outrebounded Toronto 54-48. Brandon Ingram led Toronto with 20 points, while RJ Barrett added 19 and Scottie Barnes contributed across the board with defense, rebounds, and timely baskets. Toronto’s depth proved decisive as the bench provided a steady boost in the final minutes.
The Hawks’ defense forced Toronto into tough shots early, but the Raptors found their rhythm after halftime. The momentum shifted after the break. The Raptors outscored Atlanta 29-24 in the third quarter and then took complete control in the fourth, riding a 36-20 final period to close out the comeback.
Atlanta’s offense sputtered late, committing costly turnovers and struggling from beyond the arc. Atlanta committed 19 turnovers that lead to 19 points for the Raptors. Despite solid performances from Johnson and Kristaps Porziņģis (17 points), Zaccharie Risacher (16) the Hawks couldn’t withstand Toronto’s late push.
Despite the setback, the Hawks showed promising chemistry and energy, especially in the first half. Johnson continues to emerge as a key contributor, and Alexander-Walker’s shooting gave Atlanta a needed spark from the perimeter.
Head coach Quin Snyder praised his team’s intensity but emphasized the need for better late-game execution. “We played well for most of the night,” Snyder said. “We’ve just got to finish stronger and stay composed when teams make a run.”
Atlanta will look to bounce back in their matchup against the Los Angeles as they continue their home-stand. They are currently 1-1 on the home stand and 4-5 overall on the young season.
