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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- Dikembe Mutombo and the Atlanta Hawks said it didn't matter that they beat their old coach.
Roshown McLeod scored 11 of 19 points in the fourth quarter and Jason Terry had 19 as Atlanta beat Lenny Wilkens and the Toronto
Raptors 78-72 Friday night.
The teams combined to shoot 16-for-16 from the line, making it
the first perfect free-throw shooting game since the advent of the
shot clock in 1954, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Mutombo had a season-high 20 rebounds and eight blocked shots
for the Hawks, who won consecutive games for the first time this
season.
"It was not really about Lenny. We were trying to get our
second win in a row. It's been a long time," said Mutombo, who had
75 tickets for family and friends. "I don't want to lose in front
of my sisters, nephews, cousins and loved ones, so I made sure I
had my game face on."
Wilkens, forced to resign by Atlanta after last season, lost his
first game against his former team.
Terry made two free throws with 13 seconds left, giving Atlanta
78-72 lead. The Hawks shot 11-for-11 from the line, while Toronto
was 5-for-5.
"There's no tension between us and Lenny," Terry said. "It's just nice to win two in a row. Dikembe was big inside. Sometimes I don't even guard my player. I just let them go by me just so he can try his luck. Nine times out of 10 he's going to change a shot or
he's going to block it."
Vince Carter had a team-high 20 points, but he went to the line
just once.
"Eight blocked shots speaks for itself," Carter said.
Toronto's Charles Oakley scored six points during a 14-2 run
bridging the third and fourth quarters, but McLeod scored six
straight points, giving the Hawks a two-point lead with 7:40
remaining.
Toronto's Alvin Williams and Carter followed with jumpers, but
McLeod converted a three-point play and Terry made a 3-pointer,
giving Atlanta a four-point lead with just under four minutes left.
Carter followed with a fadaway jumper, but Terry made two free
throws to make it 74-70 with 2:51 remaining.
After Mutombo blocked Williams' layup attempt, McLeod then made
two free throws, giving Atlanta a 76-70 lead with 17 seconds left.
"We didn't play well," Toronto's Mark Jackson said. "We
weren't aggressive attacking the basket as we should have been.
Mutombo is a great center and defender, but we didn't attack the
basket."
Terry scored 12 points and Atlanta held Toronto to a season-low 31 points as the Hawks led by seven at the half.
"It was one we let get away, and now we're all unhappy," Wilkens said.
Game notes
Wilkens said before the game that his last year with the
Hawks "was not a happy time -- period." The Hawks traded for Isiah
Rider and posted a 28-54 record, their all-time worst record in
Atlanta and the worst of Wilkens' 27-year coaching career. ...
Wilkens compiled a 310-232 record in seven seasons in Atlanta. ...
Toronto's Corliss Williamson didn't score a point in 15 minutes. Williamson, 0-for-5 from the field, fired his gum at the scorers table after being benched in the third. Mutombo has two sisters
that live in Toronto.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Utah 109
Indiana 101
New York 91
Philadelphia 71
Atlanta 78
Toronto 72
Miami 103
Cleveland 95
LA Lakers 108
Dallas 103
Charlotte 83
Minnesota 74
San Antonio 105
Golden State 87
Denver 116
Portland 96
Seattle 107
Washington 87
Sacramento 95
Vancouver 93
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Vince Carter Official Site
Mark Jackson Official Site
Lenny Wilkens Official Site
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