Siakam has 31 as Raptors beat Hawks to clinch playoff spot
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.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Clint Capela vs. Scottie Barnes (Pascal Siakam gains possession) | ||
| 11:40 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point driving hook shot | 0-2 |
| 11:16 |  | +2 | Clint Capela makes two point hook shot (Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot assists) | 2-2 |
| 11:04 | | De'Andre Hunter shooting foul (Scottie Barnes draws the foul) | ||
| 11:04 | | Scottie Barnes misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:04 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 11:04 | | +1 | Scottie Barnes makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-3 |
| 10:55 | | Trae Young misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 10:52 | | Khem Birch defensive rebound | ||
| 10:51 | | Khem Birch turnover (bad pass) (Clint Capela steals) | ||
| 10:45 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point finger roll layup (Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot assists) | 4-3 |
| 10:38 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Kevin Huerter steals) | ||
| 10:32 | | De'Andre Hunter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:29 | | Khem Birch defensive rebound | ||
| 10:21 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 10:19 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 10:15 | | +2 | Kevin Huerter makes two point dunk (Trae Young assists) | 6-3 |
| 10:04 | | Kevin Huerter personal foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 9:57 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 9:54 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 9:37 | | De'Andre Hunter misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:35 | | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 9:30 | | Trae Young shooting foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 9:30 | | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 6-4 |
| 9:30 | | Fred VanVleet misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | ||
| 9:30 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 9:30 | | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 6-5 |
| 9:19 | | +3 | Trae Young makes three point jump shot (Kevin Huerter assists) | 9-5 |
| 8:56 | | +2 | Scottie Barnes makes two point step back jump shot | 9-7 |
| 8:42 | | Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:40 | | Scottie Barnes defensive rebound | ||
| 8:32 | | Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot shooting foul (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | ||
| 8:32 | | +1 | Pascal Siakam makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-8 |
| 8:32 | | +1 | Pascal Siakam makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-9 |
| 8:22 | | +2 | Clint Capela makes two point alley-oop layup (Trae Young assists) | 11-9 |
| 8:11 | | +2 | Gary Trent Jr. makes two point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 11-11 |
| 8:01 | | Trae Young misses three point step back jump shot | ||
| 7:56 | | Khem Birch defensive rebound | ||
| 7:49 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point turnaround jump shot | 11-13 |
| 7:37 | | +2 | De'Andre Hunter makes two point jump shot (Trae Young assists) | 13-13 |
| 7:24 | | Pascal Siakam misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:20 | | Scottie Barnes offensive rebound | ||
| 7:15 | | Scottie Barnes misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:13 | | Khem Birch offensive rebound | ||
| 7:13 | | +2 | Khem Birch makes two point putback layup | 13-15 |
| 7:13 | | Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot shooting foul (Khem Birch draws the foul) | ||
| 7:13 | | +1 | Khem Birch makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 13-16 |
| 7:02 | | +2 | Clint Capela makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kevin Huerter assists) | 15-16 |
| 6:40 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 6:38 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 6:37 | | Fred VanVleet personal foul (Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot draws the foul) | ||
| 6:37 | | Raptors 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:20 | | Kevin Huerter misses two point jump shot | ||
| 6:15 | | Clint Capela offensive rebound | ||
| 6:15 | | Clint Capela misses two point putback layup | ||
| 6:13 | | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 6:10 | | +2 | Scottie Barnes makes two point layup (Pascal Siakam assists) | 15-18 |
| 5:56 | | Kevin Huerter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:56 | | Gary Trent Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:39 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:35 | | Trae Young defensive rebound | ||
| 5:30 | | De'Andre Hunter misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:26 | | Khem Birch defensive rebound | ||
| 5:14 | | +2 | Gary Trent Jr. makes two point step back jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 15-20 |
| 4:55 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point jump shot | 17-20 |
| 4:39 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:36 | | De'Andre Hunter defensive rebound | ||
| 4:34 | | +2 | Kevin Huerter makes two point layup (De'Andre Hunter assists) | 19-20 |
| 4:21 | | Gary Trent Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:19 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | +3 | Kevin Huerter makes three point jump shot (Trae Young assists) | 22-20 |
| 3:46 | | Fred VanVleet misses two point jump shot | ||
| 3:43 | | Kevin Huerter defensive rebound | ||
| 3:30 | | De'Andre Hunter misses two point jump shot | ||
| 3:27 | | Scottie Barnes defensive rebound | ||
| 3:24 | | De'Andre Hunter blocks Fred VanVleet's two point jump shot | ||
| 3:24 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 3:22 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:19 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:10 | | +2 | De'Andre Hunter makes two point driving layup (Trae Young assists) | 24-20 |
| 2:54 | | Chris Boucher misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:51 | | Delon Wright defensive rebound | ||
| 2:46 | | Trae Young misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:43 | | Trae Young offensive rebound | ||
| 2:40 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point jump shot | 26-20 |
| 2:32 | | Raptors 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:16 | | +2 | Precious Achiuwa makes two point floating jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 26-22 |
| 1:59 | | De'Andre Hunter misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 1:55 | | De'Andre Hunter offensive rebound | ||
| 1:55 | | +2 | De'Andre Hunter makes two point putback layup | 28-22 |
| 1:43 | | Precious Achiuwa misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:40 | | Delon Wright defensive rebound | ||
| 1:30 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point step back jump shot | ||
| 1:28 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 1:14 | | Precious Achiuwa misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 1:10 | | Onyeka Okongwu defensive rebound | ||
| 1:02 | | Trae Young turnover (lost ball) (Dalano Banton steals) | ||
| 1:02 | | De'Andre Hunter clear path foul (Dalano Banton draws the foul) | ||
| 1:02 | | Dalano Banton misses clear path free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 1:02 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 1:02 | | +1 | Dalano Banton makes clear path free throw 2 of 2 | 28-23 |
| 0:51 | | Fred VanVleet misses two point jump shot | ||
| 0:48 | | Scottie Barnes offensive rebound | ||
| 0:34 | | Precious Achiuwa misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 0:32 | | Chris Boucher offensive rebound | ||
| 0:32 | | +2 | Chris Boucher makes two point putback layup | 28-25 |
| 0:08 | | +3 | Bogdan Bogdanovic makes three point step back jump shot (Delon Wright assists) | 31-25 |
| 0:00 | | +2 | Scottie Barnes makes two point layup (Dalano Banton assists) | 31-27 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:48 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses two point step back jump shot | ||
| 11:44 | | Gary Trent Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:37 | | Onyeka Okongwu blocks Gary Trent Jr.'s two point finger roll layup | ||
| 11:35 | | Delon Wright defensive rebound | ||
| 11:28 | | Jalen Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:25 | | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | Chris Boucher turnover (bad pass) (Onyeka Okongwu steals) | ||
| 10:57 | | Dalano Banton shooting foul (Delon Wright draws the foul) | ||
| 10:57 | | Delon Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:57 | | Hawks offensive rebound | ||
| 10:57 | | +1 | Delon Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-27 |
| 10:43 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic blocks Chris Boucher's two point layup | ||
| 10:42 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 10:33 | | +2 | Gary Trent Jr. makes two point floating jump shot | 32-29 |
| 10:14 | | Delon Wright misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:12 | | Thaddeus Young defensive rebound | ||
| 10:09 | | +2 | Chris Boucher makes two point layup (Thaddeus Young assists) | 32-31 |
| 9:49 | | +3 | Bogdan Bogdanovic makes three point jump shot (Delon Wright assists) | 35-31 |
| 9:34 | | +2 | Precious Achiuwa makes two point dunk (Pascal Siakam assists) | 35-33 |
| 9:12 | | Pascal Siakam blocks Jalen Johnson's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:09 | | Thaddeus Young defensive rebound | ||
| 9:03 | | +2 | Precious Achiuwa makes two point floating jump shot | 35-35 |
| 9:03 | | Onyeka Okongwu shooting foul (Precious Achiuwa draws the foul) | ||
| 9:03 | | Precious Achiuwa misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 9:02 | | Raptors offensive rebound | ||
| 8:58 | | Precious Achiuwa misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:56 | | Precious Achiuwa offensive rebound | ||
| 8:45 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 8:42 | | Chris Boucher offensive rebound | ||
| 8:42 | | +2 | Chris Boucher makes two point putback layup | 35-37 |
| 8:31 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:26 | | Delon Wright offensive rebound | ||
| 8:26 | | +2 | Delon Wright makes two point putback dunk | 37-37 |
| 8:10 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point jump shot | 37-39 |
| 7:56 | | Lou Williams misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:53 | | Chris Boucher defensive rebound | ||
| 7:35 | | Chris Boucher misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:31 | | Thaddeus Young offensive rebound | ||
| 7:31 | | Thaddeus Young misses two point putback layup | ||
| 7:30 | | Thaddeus Young offensive rebound | ||
| 7:25 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point floating jump shot | 37-41 |
| 7:16 |