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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) – Keon Clark and the Toronto Raptors swatted their way into the NBA record book.
|  | | When he wasn't busy blocking four shots, Vince Carter scored 29 points. |
Clark had an NBA season-high 12 blocked shots and Toronto finished with an NBA record 23 as the Raptors beat the Atlanta Hawks 112-86 Friday night.
"They swatted away pretty well anything near the rim," Atlanta
coach Lon Kruger said.
Vince Carter had four blocks, Jerome Williams and Alvin Williams
each had two, and Morris Peterson, Charles Oakley and Antonio Davis
each had one.
The previous record of 22 was set by New Jersey in a game
against Denver on Dec. 12 1991.
"Keon changed the whole complexion of the game," Atlanta's Alan Henderson. "We couldn't get anything to go."
Clark, who had 10 blocks in the first half, broke Marcus Camby's
franchise record of 11 blocks. Acquired in a trade from Denver on
Jan. 12, Clark also had 13 points and eight rebounds.
"It's all about opportunity," said Clark, who is averaging
more than nine points, five rebounds and three blocks in 33 games
with Toronto.
"I can be best the player in the world, but when you're sitting
on the bench nobody will ever know."
The previous high for blocks in an NBA game this season was nine, done five times. Elmore Smith of the Los Angeles Lakers set the NBA single-game record with 17 blocked shots against Portland on Oct. 28, 1973.
"We still went in there but nothing happened. He rejected us every time," Atlanta's Jason Terry said.
The Hawks, who shot 33 percent from the field, have lost eight
straight road games and 14 of 17 overall.
"Keon was blocking everything in sight during one stretch," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said. "They even took one block away from him."
Alvin Williams recorded his first career triple-double,
finishing with 11 points, a career-high 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
"It was all about teamwork tonight, and we put it out in mass
numbers," Clark said.
Six Raptors reached double figures. Carter scored 29, Peterson
19 and Oakley and Davis each had 10.
Tracy Murray's jumper gave Toronto a 40-point lead with 8:41
remaining.
The Raptors led by as many as 20 points early in the second
quarter, but Atlanta cut its deficit to 12 with a 10-2 run. Toronto
countered with a 14-4 run for a 20-point lead at the half.
The Raptors, led by nine points by Carter, outscored Atlanta
31-16 in the third quarter.
The Hawks were without Toni Kukoc (flu), Lorenzen Wright (sprained right thumb) and Chris Crawford (sprained left ankle).
Henderson led Atlanta with 17 points.
"It was a disgrace," Atlanta's Brevin Knight said. "Toronto blocked shots and ran the floor."
Game notes
The NBA record for blocks in a half is 11. Three players
have blocked 11 shots in a half and Manute Bol of Washington was
the last to do it on Feb. 26, 1987. ... Atlanta shot 28 percent in
the first half. ... The Hawks shot 21 percent in the first quarter
as Clark had five blocks. ... The Raptors have recorded three
triple-doubles this season. ... Kukoc, who left Thursday's game in
the third quarter with the flu, averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 rebounds
and 5.7 assists in his previous 10 games with Atlanta.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 95
Vancouver 75
Toronto 112
Atlanta 86
New Jersey 95
New York 86
Minnesota 101
Denver 90
Chicago 93
Charlotte 90
Milwaukee 115
Orlando 103
Phoenix 84
Philadelphia 71
LA Lakers 104
Washington 91
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