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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
ATLANTA (AP) -- Dikembe Mutombo leads the NBA in rebounding. On
Wednesday night he proved he can also score.
|  | | Lenny Wilkens brought his new team to Atlanta, where he coached the Hawks for seven years. |
Mutombo had a season-high 29 rebounds and scored 21 points as
the Atlanta Hawks beat the Toronto Raptors 102-97.
"It's a great accomplishment on my part and also on my team's," Mutombo said. "I'm glad we played so well today. It was really big for us. We've been struggling at home."
Mutombo finished with six blocked shots and led the Hawks to their third win in eight games. Earlier Wednesday, he was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team by commissioner David Stern.
Mutombo, a 7-foot-2 center in his 10th season, won his first rebounding title last season. He leads the league in rebounding with a 14.3 average and is two blocked shots away from passing former Atlanta center Tree Rollins for sixth place on the career list.
"Just an unbelievable effort on the boards," Hawks coach Lon Kruger said. "He was changing shots and blocking shots and really aggressive offensively."
The victory spoiled the return of former Atlanta coach Lenny
Wilkens, whose Raptors were playing without guard Vince Carter.
Carter, fourth in NBA scoring with a 27.7 average, remained in Toronto after reinjuring his left knee early in the first quarter of the Raptors' win over Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Toronto, which had won two straight and five of seven, closed
within two on Corliss Williamson's fastbreak layup with 5:04
remaining, but couldn't complete their comeback.
"It was a tough game for us," Wilkens said. "We didn't have any legs, and it showed. We were slow of foot. It happens sometimes, especially on a back-to-back."
Morris Peterson, starting in place of Carter, led Toronto with 20 points. Antonio Davis finished with 15 rebounds, and Alvin
Williams had 17 points.
Point guard Mark Jackson dismissed any suggestion the Raptors' rough Tuesday night impacted their play. Four hours after checking into their hotel in Atlanta at 4 a.m., the Raptors and other hotel
guests were evacuated because of a small fire.
No one was injured in the fire, which kept guests out of the
hotel for 45 minutes.
"That had nothing to do with it," Jackson said. "We still
should have won the game. But give them credit. They played well.
We are a better basketball team. It's the truth. Check the
record."
Reserve Dell Curry, assessed with two technical fouls in the
fourth quarter, was ejected by official Joe Crawford.
Responding to taunts by the Atlanta bench after his 3-pointer made it 96-91, Curry was whistled the first time for using profanity with 2:05 to go.
Curry's second technical came with 56.5 seconds remaining as the
Raptors huddled around Wilkens during a timeout. Curry finished
with 18 points.
"I think guys were real tired after getting in real late," Peterson said. "You know, the fire and stuff like that. It kind of threw us off a little bit."
Mutombo, who had 15 rebounds in the second half, finished with
12 offensive rebounds as the Hawks outrebounded Toronto 55-44.
Terry and Alan Henderson each scored 16 points for the Hawks. Dion Glover came off the bench to score 15.
"My game has been up and down," Glover said. "Coach rewards
you for attacking and being aggressive. He'll give you the
minutes."
Game notes
The Raptors are 2-9 in Atlanta. ... Hawks F Roshown McLeod,
suffering from sinus headaches, remained in the locker room after
halftime. ... F Lorenzen Wright shot 3-for-13 from the field. ...
Curry was 4-for-6 on 3-pointers.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
Mutombo, Sprewell added to East All-Star squad
Don't look back: Wilkens focused on coaching Raptors
Small fire chases Raptors from their Atlanta hotel rooms
Carter's MRI shows knee injury has not gotten worse
RECAPS
Boston 102
Indiana 96
Orlando 100
Washington 96
Atlanta 102
Toronto 97
Detroit 112
New Jersey 103
Milwaukee 116
Denver 111
Minnesota 96
LA Lakers 83
San Antonio 92
LA Clippers 70
Phoenix 101
Vancouver 92
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Vince Carter Official Site
Mark Jackson Official Site
Lenny Wilkens Official Site
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