(SportsDirect) – DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points and hot-shooting Toronto dealt a blow to host Atlanta’s chances of earning the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference by beating them 113-96 Tuesday night.
Rudy Gay added 22 points and Amir Johnson had 11 points, eight rebounds and a season-high six blocked shots as the Raptors won their fourth in a row and improved to 6-1 in their last seven games.
Kyle Korver scored 13 points and Ivan Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who dropped into a tie for fifth place with Chicago with one game left. The Bulls, who own the tiebreaker, host Washington while the Hawks visit New York yesterday.
DeRozan (19) and Gay combined for 36 points in the opening half as Toronto set a season high for points in rolling to a 68-51 lead into the break. The Raptors shot 66.7 percent in the first half and 70.6 (12-of-17) in the second quarter to seize control.