Hawks run out of gas, fall to Raptors on second night of back-to-back games

TORONTO — The Hawks did not have it in them. Despite cutting their deficit down to one point by the end of the third quarter, the Hawks just ran out of gas. They fell 134-117 to the Raptors on the second night of back-to-back games.

The Hawks fall to 0-3 to the Raptors in the season series.

Quick stats: Nickeil Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 31 points. Jalen Johnson had 30 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Dyson Daniels had 20 points, five rebounds and 12 assists.

Vit Krejci tied his career-high in 3-pointers made in a single season (90) with his fourth 3 of the game. Krejci made 90 3s in 2024-25.

Raptors’ Brandon Ingram scored 29 points and had nine rebounds.

Turning point

The Hawks simply could not score in the fourth quarter. For five straight minutes, the Hawks put up shot after shot, going 0-of-6 from the field.

All the while, the Raptors forced the seven turnovers, going on a 16-0 run that put them up 123-106 with 7:18 to play in the game.

“First and foremost, they ran off our mistakes and turnovers, and then we had a couple shots that didn’t fall, but it’s hard for you to defend against those turnovers,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said.

The Hawks got their shots on target, but they didn’t seem to have enough power behind their attempts to get points on the board.

They did not make their first field goal of the fourth quarter until 6:48 remained in the game.

Highlight play

Alexander-Walker is listed on most basketball websites as a right-handed shooter. But the Hawks guard has been known to get to the rim and finish off a drive with his left.

With 1:08 to play in the third quarter, Alexander-Walker lulled his defender before crossing him up and driving to the basket once he got space. It cut the Hawks’ deficit to 107-104.

Alexander-Walker got another one to fall 35 seconds later that got the Hawks within one entering the fourth quarter.

What they said

“It’s tough to find the energy to continue to do that. So when you do do it, you got to keep playing solid. Turnovers are going to get you behind or hurt a comeback one way or the other. I’ll have to look at them (the turnovers) but a few of them were just unforced.” -- Snyder on the Hawks multiple efforts to get back in the game.

“I just think that tonight, we didn’t get stops. They made a lot of shots. That’s it.” -- Onyeka Okongwu on the Hawks finding another level defensively.