It hasn’t exactly been “home sweet home” for the Atlanta Hawks during their current homestand. They hope to reverse this trend when they host the Toronto Raptors on Saturday for the latter game of their two-game series.
The Hawks have lost three games in a row, including the first two of a three-game homestand, and hold an 11-9 record at home. Meanwhile, Toronto secured a 122-119 victory over Atlanta on Thursday, marking just their second road win of the season. The Raptors are trending positively, having won two straight games and four of their last five.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks may be dealing with multiple injuries:
- Jalen Johnson: Recently returned from a right shoulder injury but injured his left shoulder on Thursday. He averages 18.9 points and 10 rebounds but has been ruled out for Saturday.
- Clint Capela: Missed Thursday’s game with a sore right knee after a hard fall on Wednesday.
- Zaccharie Risacher: The top overall 2024 draft pick, who has missed five games with a left adductor strain, is not expected to return until next week.
A bright spot for the Hawks has been Bogdan Bogdanovic, who has rediscovered his shooting touch. He was 8-for-12 from the floor and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, scoring a team-high 23 points on Thursday.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors showed resilience on Thursday, overcoming a 17-point deficit and a six-point deficit with 4:46 remaining. Scottie Barnes led the charge with 25 points, including a decisive basket with 55 seconds left.
Injuries:
- Davion Mitchell: Started in place of Immanuel Quickley (left groin) and effectively guarded Trae Young, who scored 18 points. Quickley will not play on Saturday.
- Kelly Olynyk: Ruled out for Saturday after leaving Thursday’s game with right calf tightness. He had scored 10-plus points in three straight games.
- Ochai Agbaji: Missed his third straight game with a laceration on his right hand and is ruled out for Saturday.
Both teams will be looking to finish their season series on a high note. For the Raptors, minimizing turnovers will be key, as their 20 turnovers on Thursday led to 28 points for the Hawks. Atlanta will need to rely on their depth to compensate for their injured players.
