Music: {allcanada} RAPTORS RETURN HOME FROM WINNING TRIP TO FACE HAWKS

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

{allcanada} RAPTORS RETURN HOME FROM WINNING TRIP TO FACE HAWKS

The Toronto Raptors return home tonight after a winning five-game road trip to face the strong-shooting Atlanta Hawks at the Air Canada Centre.

Toronto wrapped up its travels on a winning note in New Jersey on Sunday when DeMar DeRozan poured in a game-high 27 points on 8-of-12 from the floor as Toronto pounded the Nets, 94-73, at Prudential Center.

Jerryd Bayless finished with 17 points and six rebounds, while Linas Kleiza netted 15 points and Jose Calderon added 10 for the Raptors, who bounced back from a 96-81 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday and finished the trip with a winning ledger at 3-2.

"I thought DeMar did a heck of a job attacking the basket," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. "He has to continue to attack because he's too athletic and quick not to get to the rim."

Toronto continues to play without leading scorer Andrea Bargnani, who is sidelined with a left calf strain. Meanwhile swingman Leandro Barbosa sat out Sunday with a balky left ankle and has been listed as day-to-day.

Atlanta suffered what seemed to be a devastating blow when starting center Al Horford went down with a torn left pectoral. Instead, the Hawks have held up remarkably well without their two-time All Star.

Atlanta improved to 8-2 since Horford went down on Sunday in New Orleans when Jeff Teague matched a career-high with 24 points, leading the Hawks to a 94-72 drubbing of the struggling Hornets.

Ex-Hornet Willie Green finished with 16 points off the bench and Marvin Williams scored 14 points for the Hawks, who have won four of their last five games overall and improved to 3-1 on a five-game road trip that ends tonight. Atlanta hasn't won four games on a five-game trek since going a perfect 5-0 from Dec. 8-14, 1968.

The Hawks came out of the gates on fire in the Big Easy, ripping off a 27-6 run to start the game. Atlanta shot 52.4 percent in the opening 12 minutes and led 27-11 after the first frame.

"It was key," Hawks head coach Larry Drew said of his team's fast start. "I'm most proud about this win is the way we maintained our composure. This team has been a pesky team for us and for a lot of other teams and they have been right there at the end, I'm just glad we were able to come out with a win."

The Hawks won both of their trips to Toronto a season ago and have taken four of their last five games at Air Canada Centre.