The big concern was that the Raptors — minus top backcourt defender Fred VanVleet — would have a hard time keeping up with the speedy, athletic Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
Concerns unfounded.
Playing their best overall game of the season and racking up a season-high 43 fast-break points, the Raptors throttled the Hawks 139-109 behind an almost perfectly balanced offence at Scotiabank Arena.
VanVleet missed the game with lower back stiffness that first started bothering him Friday, coach Nick Nurse said. The veteran guard did not go through the team’s Sunday practice.