Fourth-quarter collapse derails Hawks' comeback bid. Turnovers and Toronto's surge expose fatigue, sealing another loss on the road.
The Atlanta Hawks mounted another push, but the finish never came. Atlanta watched a one-point deficit swell into a rout in the fourth quarter as the Hawks fell 134-117 to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night, dropping to 0-3 against Toronto this season and showing the strain of a back-to-back on the road.
The Hawks clawed back throughout the night and trimmed the margin to 107-106 by the end of the third quarter, but the final 12 minutes exposed fatigue and costly mistakes. Toronto opened the fourth with a decisive 16-0 run, fueled by turnovers and transition baskets, and Atlanta never recovered.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker delivered his best scoring performance of the season, pouring in 31 points to lead all scorers. Jalen Johnson followed closely with 30 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, while Dyson Daniels added a 20-point, 12-assist double-double to keep Atlanta within reach deep into the game.
Toronto’s balance and physicality ultimately proved overwhelming. Brandon Ingram scored 29 points on an efficient 11-of-15 shooting night and added nine rebounds for the Raptors, who have now won five straight meetings against Atlanta. RJ Barrett also scored 29 points, Scottie Barnes finished with 20, and Immanuel Quickley chipped in 15 as Toronto improved to 17-1 when leading after three quarters.
Atlanta’s collapse centered on a prolonged offensive drought to open the fourth. The Hawks missed six straight shots to begin the period and went more than five minutes without a field goal. During that stretch, Toronto forced seven turnovers and converted them into a game-breaking run that pushed the lead to 123-106 with 7:18 remaining.
The Hawks’ defensive resistance from Friday’s win at Madison Square Garden never materialized. After becoming the first team this season to hold the New York Knicks under 100 points, Atlanta surrendered 134 and allowed 125 or more for the 10th time in its last 10 losses.
Vit Krejci scored 13 points and tied his career high for made three-pointers in a season with his 90th, matching his total from the 2024–25 campaign. Keaton Wallace added 11 points off the bench, but the Hawks lacked the depth and energy to withstand Toronto’s pressure late.
Quin Snyder pointed directly to mistakes fueling the decisive stretch.
“We ran off our mistakes and turnovers,” Snyder said. “Then we had a couple shots that didn’t fall, but it’s hard for you to defend against those turnovers.”
Snyder later expanded on the difficulty of sustaining multiple comeback attempts.
“It’s tough to find the energy to continue to do that,” Snyder said. “Turnovers are going to get you behind or hurt a comeback one way or the other. A few of them were just unforced.”
Onyeka Okongwu emphasized the defensive breakdowns that allowed Toronto to seize control.
“I just think that tonight, we didn’t get stops,” Okongwu said. “They made a lot of shots. That’s it.”
Daniels focused on the physical tone set by the Raptors and Atlanta’s response.
“A team that’s physical and puts a lot of pressure on you like that, you have to drive,” Daniels said. “You have to get feet in the paint. If you play on the back foot and allow them to be physical, that’s when you can get hurt. We just have to be more aggressive next time.”
Atlanta again played without Trae Young, who missed his fourth straight game with a bruised right quadriceps. Kristaps Porziņģis was sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back for conditioning purposes as he works his way back into form. Toronto was also shorthanded, sitting Jakob Poeltl for a sixth consecutive game due to a back injury.
The Hawks will have a chance to respond quickly. Atlanta remains in Toronto for the fourth and final meeting of the season series against the Raptors on Monday, searching for answers — and energy — to avoid a season sweep.