Siakam has 31 as Raptors beat Hawks to clinch playoff spot

Apr 5, 2022, 7:02 AM | Updated: 8:56 pm
Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter (12) tries to dunk over Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achi...

Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter (12) tries to dunk over Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

              Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter (12) tries to dunk over Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse reacts towards the game officials during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Scottie Barnes, de los Raptors de Toronto, festeja tras encestar ante los Hawks de Atlanta, el marts 5 de abril de 2022 (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Scottie Barnes, de los Raptors de Toronto, festeja tras encestar ante los Hawks de Atlanta, el marts 5 de abril de 2022 (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors forward Thaddeus Young (21) battles for the ball against Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors forward Thaddeus Young (21) battles for the ball against Atlanta Hawks guard Delon Wright (0) and forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa (5) dunks over Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors center Khem Birch (24) blocks a shot by Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young's (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) drives to the basket over Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) moves the ball around Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) looks toward the loose ball as he falls to the floor after being fouled by Toronto Raptors centre Khem Birch, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa (5) dunks over Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives to the basket as Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Pascal Siakam had 31 points and 13 rebounds, Scottie Barnes added 19 points and 14 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors clinched a playoff berth by beating the Atlanta Hawks 118-108 on Tuesday night.

Chris Boucher scored 18 points, Gary Trent Jr. had 14, Fred VanVleet 12 and Precious Achiuwa 11. Toronto has won 12 of 16. This victory, coupled with Cleveland’s loss at Orlando, ensured the Raptors (46-33) will finish no lower than sixth in the Eastern Conference.

“We did what we set out to do in the regular season,” VanVleet said. “Now it’s time to go see what we can do.”

Toronto rose to fifth in the East after Chicago lost to Milwaukee. The Bulls hold the tiebreaker over the Raptors.

Sixth place is the last guaranteed postseason spot, with teams finishing in the Nos. 7-10 spots headed for the play-in tournament.

Raptors coach Nick Nurse said he was proud of his players for exceeding expectations.

“They found a way to grind out enough wins to get them in this situation,” Nurse said. “I don’t think they were picked to be here, so that’s always a good accomplishment.”

Trae Young had 26 points and 15 assists for the Hawks, who lost for the first time in six games and locked themselves into a play-in berth. Atlanta (41-38) and Brooklyn are 1 1/2 games behind seventh-place Cleveland.

“Obviously we wish we were higher in the standings but we’re not,” Young said. “We are where we are. We’ve got to take care of business with what’s ahead of us.”

The Hawks host Washington on Wednesday before finishing the season with games at Miami and Houston. Atlanta is one game ahead of Charlotte in 10th.

Kevin Huerter scored 21 points, De’Andre Hunter had 20 and Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 19. Clint Capela had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

“Their size definitely hurt us,” Huerter said of the Raptors, who outscored Atlanta 62-42 in the paint.

Toronto led 102-92 after Barnes made a 3-pointer with 7:38 left in the fourth quarter, but Atlanta answered with a 10-0 run, tying it at 102-all on Young’s basket with 4:29 remaining.

Young gave the Hawks their first lead of the fourth quarter by making one of two from the line with 2:53 to play, but Achiuwa made one to tie it and Barnes ended Toronto’s drought of 5 minutes, 45 seconds by converting a putback layup with 1:53 to go.

After Bogdanovic missed a 3, VanVleet connected from distance for Toronto, giving the Raptors a 108-103 lead with just over a minute left.

“It comes down to making shots and getting stops, and we didn’t do that after being able to tie that game 102-102,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “You’ve got to close, you’ve got to finish that game.”

FINDING THEIR RANGE

The Raptors started 0 for 12 from 3-point range but finished 9 for 35. Thad Young made Toronto’s first 3 with 1:12 left in the first half.

ROCKY ROAD

Atlanta is 15-24 on the road. The Hawks have fewer road wins than any postseason contender in either conference except for the West’s 11th place Lakers, who were 11-27 on the road going into Tuesday’s game at Phoenix.

“It’s tough to win on the road in the NBA,” Huerter said.

TAKE A BREAK

With a playoff berth clinched, Nurse said he’ll give VanVleet and other regulars some rest in the final three games of the season. VanVleet has been playing with a sore right knee.

“We’re going to get him off his feet here for a couple days,” Nurse said.

TIP-INS

Hawks: F Danilo Gallinari sat because of a sore left knee. … Bogdanovic had nine rebounds.

Raptors: Nurse said F OG Anunoby’s sore left thigh is “much improved” but held the injured forward out for a second straight game. … VanVleet had nine assists and Siakam had six. … Young matched his season-high with five offensive rebounds.

UP NEXT

Hawks: Host Washington on Wednesday night

Raptors: Host Philadelphia on Thursday night.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]
27 days ago
Joe Jarzynka...
Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]
27 days ago
FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...
Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]
27 days ago
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...
Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]
27 days ago
FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...
Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]
27 days ago
FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...
Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]
27 days ago
Siakam has 31 as Raptors beat Hawks to clinch playoff spot