Hawks vs Raptors: Game Thread – Korver OUT, Mack to Start at SG

Nov 1, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Toronto Raptors power forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) passes the ball around Atlanta Hawks small forward Kyle Korver (26) in the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview

Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver will miss his second straight game due to back spasms and won’t play in Sunday’s pivotal road game against the third-place Raptors.

Korver did not travel with the team to Toronto. He stayed back in Atlanta to receive treatment.

The 33-year-old swingman sat out of Friday’s home game against the Pelicans after his back “flared up” during warm-ups. He was scratched minutes before tip-off.

Hawks backup point guard Shelvin Mack started in Korver’s place on Friday and will do so again on Sunday.

Korver, a 10-year veteran, has been a major focal point in Atlanta’s offense this season, averaging 12.3 points per game, and set an NBA record for most consecutive games with a made 3-pointer at 127 straight  – the previous record was 89 games.

According to Hawks beat writer Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Consitution, “there is no timetable for Korver’s return.”

The Hawks are 1-4 without Korver this year.

Quick Facts

Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Toronto Raptors

What?: Pivotal Eastern Conference Showdown (Game #68, Road Game #36)

Where?: Air Canada Centre (Toronto, ON)

When?: Sunday, March 23, 2014 – 1:00 PM (ET)

How?: SportSouth HD TV / 92.9 FM

Probable Starters

Atlanta Hawks:

PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Shelvin Mack | SF: DeMarre Carroll | PF: Paul Millsap | C: Pero Antic

Toronto Raptors:

PG: Kyle Lowry | SG: DeMar DeRozan | SF: Terrence Ross | PF: Amir Johnson | C: Jonas Valanciunas

Injury Report

Atlanta Hawks: Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder surgery), Al Horford (right pectoral muscle surgery), John Jenkins (lower back surgery) and Kyle Korver (back spasms) are out.

Toronto Raptors: Patrick Patterson (right ulnar collateral sprain) is out.

Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold

Records: Atlanta Hawks (31-36) / Toronto Raptors (38-30)

Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Lost 1 | HOME: Lost 1 | ROAD: Won 2                        Toronto Raptors  –> OVERALL: Lost 1 | HOME: Lost 2 | ROAD: Won 1

Home/Away Records: Raptors are (20-14) at home / Hawks are (11-24) on the road.

Atlanta Hawks: Lukewarm. The Hawks lost on Friday night at home to the Pelicans, snapping a season-best five-game winning streak.

Toronto Raptors: Lukewarm. The Raptors lost a tough one-point overtime game to the Thunder on Friday and three of their last four overall, but they’re still hanging onto third place in the East.

Series Notes/Past Series Notes

Atlanta travels to Toronto for the fourth-and-final contest between the teams. Atlanta travels to Toronto for the fourth-and-final contest between the teams opener on 11/1 (102-95); Toronto bounced back to win at home on 2/12 (104-83); Atlanta triumphed at home in overtime on 3/18 (118-113). Jeff Teague is averaging 21.3 points, 7.7 assists and 2.0 steals versus Toronto this season. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 30.3 points against the Hawks this year. Atlanta last won in Toronto on 3/27/13 (107-88). The Hawks lead the all-time series 41-29, including a 19-15 mark on the road.

LAST MEETING — HAWKS 118, RAPTORS 113 (OT) — ATLANTA, GA — 3/18/14

Toronto started hot, leading by as-many-as-13 in the early going before settling for a 26-17 advantage after one. The Hawks came roaring back in the second to knot things up at the break (49-49). The third quarter featured 12 lead changes and four ties, but it was Atlanta taking an 80-78 lead to the final frame. The fourth was more of the same, with 10 lead changes and five ties, until Kyle Korver’s three-pointer with 1:20 remaining put Atlanta back up two. Kyle Lowry tied it at 106 with 8.1 seconds showing on the clock and Paul Millsap missed a jumper, sending the game to overtime. The Hawks locked up defensively in the extra session and iced the contest from the free throw line. Millsap recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists and Jeff Teague tied his career-best with 34 points (11-18 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 11-11 FTs). Korver added 16 points. Six Raptors, including all five starters, scored in double-figures, led by DeMar DeRozan’s 29. DeRozan (10 rebounds) and Amir Johnson (11 points/11 boards) had double-doubles.

Common Threads

Atlanta Assistant Coach Jim Thomas served in the same capacity with Toronto, as well as being a scout for the Raptors, from 1994-2001. DeMarre Carroll has been teammates with Kyle Lowry (Houston 2010-11) and Julyan Stone (Denver for part of 2011-12). Steve Novak played for San Antonio for part of 2010-11 while Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer was an Assistant on the Spurs’ bench. Budenholzer also coached Nando De Colo as a Spurs Assistant in 2012-13. Hawks Assistant Coach Kenny Atkinson coached Landry Fields as an Assistant with the Knicks from 2010-12. Raptors TV broadcaster Leo Rautins played four games for the Hawks in the 1984-85 season.

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Information was used from the Hawks and Raptors official gamenotes

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