Raptors Fall to Hawks 136-107, Extend Losing Streak to Ten

TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors‘ struggles continued on December 29, 2024, as they were defeated 136-107 by the Atlanta Hawks at Scotiabank Arena. The loss marks the Raptors’ tenth consecutive defeat, dropping their season record to 7-25. Meanwhile, the Hawks improved to 18-15 with the win, led by an impressive performance from Trae Young.

The Hawks came out strong, taking an early 35-25 lead after the first quarter. Despite Toronto’s efforts, including a strong second quarter where they outscored Atlanta 33-29, the Raptors couldn’t close the gap, heading into halftime down by 14 points (68-54).

Atlanta’s offense was firing on all cylinders in the second half, particularly in the third quarter, where they scored 40 points, extending their lead to 104-82. Toronto struggled to keep pace, and despite some efforts in the final quarter, the Hawks maintained control, winning by a 29-point margin.

Final

Presented by @McDonaldsCanada pic.twitter.com/Gz5oibhup5

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 30, 2024

Trae Young was the standout for the Hawks, finishing with 34 points, 10 assists, and shooting 10-of-21 from the field. De’Andre Hunter added 22 points, and Atlanta shot an efficient 48.4% from the floor and 40% from three-point range.

For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes led the way with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. However, Toronto’s offense continued to struggle with turnovers, committing 31 compared to Atlanta’s 15. The Raptors also had difficulties from beyond the arc, shooting just 29.2% from three-point range.

The Raptors did manage to out-rebound the Hawks, grabbing 52 boards compared to Atlanta’s 40, but their inability to capitalize on fast break opportunities and the high number of turnovers ultimately proved costly. The Raptors also struggled with foul trouble, committing 26 fouls to Atlanta’s 19.

Looking ahead, the Raptors will look to regroup as they prepare for their next challenge against the Boston Celtics on December 31, 2024. With the Raptors’ playoff hopes looking increasingly slim, the team faces an uphill battle to turn things around and break their losing streak.