Siakam, VanVleet provide Raptors with fuel after swap for Gasol

ATLANTA — Pascal Siakam scored a career-high 33 points, Fred VanVleet added a careerbest 30 and the Toronto Raptors rallied after trailing by 17 points in the first half to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 119-101, in National Basketball Association action Thursday night.

The Raptors were short-handed after trading four players in two deals before the trade deadline. They used only nine players and relied heavily on Siakam, who also had 13 rebounds, and VanVleet with all-star Kawhi Leonard resting.

Rookie Trae Young and Taurean Price each had 19 points for Atlanta.

Toronto, which began the night two games behind Eastern Conference leader Milwaukee, acquired centre Marc Gasol from Memphis before Thursday’s trade deadline for Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles and Delon Wright.

The Raptors also traded centre Greg Monroe to the Nets for cash considerations.

Atlanta led 66-49 in the second quarter before the Raptors used an 11-0 run to launch their comeback. Danny Green sank three free throws to cap the run.

Toronto kept the momentum in the third quarter and led 88-85 entering the final period. The Raptors opened the fourth quarter with a 13-3 run to extend the lead in their third straight win.

Kyle Lowry had 13 points and 13 assists.

The Raptors (40-16) visit the New York Knicks on Saturday.