Last night the Toronto Raptors posted a strong 118 to 100 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This win completed a season sweep of the Hawks, capped off a successful homestand, and gave Raptors fans another reason to feel genuinely excited about how this season is unfolding.
How the Game Unfolded
Toronto set the tone early and never let Atlanta get comfortable. The Raptors controlled most of the game from the second quarter onward, with balanced scoring and sustained defensive effort. A late run bumped the lead back out after a brief Hawks push, and Toronto stayed in command all the way to the final whistle.
This wasn’t just a one-off win. It was the second straight victory against the Hawks in a short span, and Toronto’s depth showed up in a big way.
Standout Performances and Final Stats
- Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 19 points and nine rebounds, making key plays inside and keeping the offence moving.
- Scottie Barnes flirted with another triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, showing once again how much he impacts the game in a multitude of ways.
- Collin Murray-Boyles stepped up with a breakout night, scoring 17 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists. His presence on both ends helped keep the Raptors fresh and dynamic.
- RJ Barrett also scored 17 points, making shots when Toronto needed to maintain momentum, while Immanuel Quickley contributed 16 points and helped the Raptors stay sharp on offence.
- Sandro Mamukelashvili added 12, and Gradey Dick chipped in 11 points.
- Seven players in double figures, and it speaks to how deep and well-rounded this roster can be on a given night.
For the Hawks, Onyeka Okongwu had a solid night inside with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Jalen Johnson filled up the stat sheet with 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, but they could not keep pace with Toronto’s offensive balance. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Zaccharie Risacher also scored in double digits for Atlanta.
Are the Raptors Still Second in the East?
Yes. With this win the Raptors improved to 22 and 15, keeping them near the upper part of the Eastern Conference standings. They were still just behind first place as of the latest standings, and this kind of balanced victory helps strengthen their position in the playoff picture. A few more wins like this one and they can start closing the gap on the top seed.
To keep climbing, the Raptors need consistency on both ends of the floor, especially when it comes to defending in stretches and maintaining offensive flow without big scoring droughts.
What Needs to Happen Next
As good as this win felt, there are always small details that can make the difference in the long run:
• Defensive communication early so opponents don’t stay close through the first half.
• Taking advantage of home court by closing games even more decisively in the fourth quarter.
• Keeping the bench involved and productive so when starters rest the offence stays potent.
This team has the pieces to do those things, and last night was a great example of how they want to play. SI
Trade Updates and Roster Notes
At this point there were no official trade moves involving the Raptors and nothing confirmed about a return for DeMar DeRozan. Most of the mid-season rumblings around the league have focused on other teams and players, including some trade speculation around Trae Young and the Hawks, but nothing concrete was coming out about Toronto making a splash at the deadline.
Final Thoughts from a Long Time Fan
I have watched this franchise through seasons where wins like this felt far away. Last night the Raptors played with energy from start to finish, shared the ball, and showed depth and resilience. That’s a formula that wins basketball games against real competition.
Seeing guys like Murray-Boyles step up, Barnes nearly post a triple-double, Ingram lead with calm aggression, and so many others score in double figures is not just fun — it is encouraging.
If this group keeps building momentum, tightening up the defence where needed, and staying connected on offence, they could be dangerous all the way into spring.
👏 Let’s Go Raptors 👏
