Raptors rally to beat Hawks

By Michael Cunningham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

TORONTO -- Just when it looked as if the Hawks had solved their issues with letting opponents rally late in games, Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors reminded them they still have work to do.

Bosh’s jump shot with 2.1 seconds left lifted the Raptors to a 106-105 victory Wednesday against the Hawks, who blew a nine-point lead over the final 3:53.

Toronto ended a five-game losing streak and ended the Hawks’ win streak at three. It didn’t look like it would turn out that way when the Hawks led 101-92 but they couldn’t finish.

“We really had it going,” said Hawks forward Al Horford. “We really should have closed it out. I understand it is all part of learning and growing as a team, but we’ve got to close it out.”

The Hawks were without All-Star guard Joe Johnson (Achilles tendon). They won at New Jersey without him Tuesday night but couldn’t make winning plays against the Raptors, who are desperately trying to turn their season around and avoid missing the playoffs.

The Raptors cut the lead to 103-101 on Sonny Weems’ basket at 1:52. Horford scored on a hook shot and then blocked Bosh’s shot attempt, but Bosh’s driving shot with 45.9 seconds left made the score 105-103.

After Hawks forward Josh Smith missed and deflected the ball out of bounds, Toronto’s Hedo Turkoglu was fouled and made one of two free throws. But the Hawks couldn’t corral the miss, and the ball went out of bounds to the Raptors.

“They were scrappier and came up with loose balls,” said Hawks guard Jamal Crawford, who scored a season-high 33 points.

Hawks guard Mo Evans said officials should have reviewed possession on the play.

“I feel like they got rescued when they shouldn’t have had an extra possession,” he said.

After Bosh made the game-winner, Raptors fans who had booed their team’s effort for much of the night erupted at Toronto’s first victory in three meetings with the Hawks.

“I don’t feel like it’s a setback,” said Hawks guard Mo Evans. “That’s why Bosh is one of the top players in the game, hitting a shot like that.”

Crawford made 14 of 25 shots as the Hawks shot 48 percent. Horford had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Mike Bibby added 17.

The Raptors are trying to hang onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They looked ready to cruise to victory when they forged a 15-point lead in the second quarter, but some chippy plays energized the Hawks.

Reggie Evans banged Bibby on his right leg twice, prompting Bibby to earn a technical foul for complaining to officials. Smith also got a technical when he sent Jose Calderon sprawling with a foul and the two exchanged words.

The roughhousing seemed to spark the Hawks, who used 24-12 run over the final 7:20 of the second quarter to get within 59-56 at halftime. They kept it going after halftime, leading by as many as 11 points in the third quarter and controlling the game until faltering over the final four minutes.

The Hawks didn’t appear to have the same energy late in the game. Mo Evans said the Hawks should have gotten the ball inside more to Horford, even after the Raptors began to deny entry passes.

“Fatigue is always a factor in back-to-back games,” Evans said. “That’s why it’s important to attack the rim. But give them credit, they made plays.”