Raptors play host to playoff-hungry Hawks

The Toronto Raptors will try to snap a four-game losing streak on Wednesday night when they welcome the Atlanta Hawks to Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors haven't won since Mar. 15 when they defeated the Charlotte Bobcats at home. Since, Toronto has lost to the historic Miami Heat, those same Bobcats in Charlotte and twice the Atlantic Division-leading New York Knicks.

To make matters worse for the Raptors, Rudy Gay, acquired in a midseason trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, left in the first half of Friday's game against the Knicks with back spasms. He didn't play the next night in Madison Square Garden.

Some reports indicated that Gay was going to be done for the season with the back injury.

Not quite.

Gay practiced with the team on Monday.

"Rudy went through practice today, what he could, and the back is loosening up, so there's going to be no talk of shutting him down and it's just going to be a day-to-day thing," head coach Dwane Casey said Monday.

"Some people are different, but personally I'm the kind of guy that if there's basketball being played, I want to be a part of it," Gay said.

The Hawks will be in the postseason, although they haven't clinched a spot just yet. Atlanta is tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Bulls.

The Hawks have lost three of their last five, including a 100-94 setback on Monday in Indiana to the Pacers. Indiana was without three starters, but still built a 22-point lead after three quarters.

Atlanta went with reserves to start the period and the bench guys delivered. The Hawks second unit cut the huge deficit to four points, but Indiana prevailed in the end.

"I'm proud of my bench," said head coach Larry Drew. "They came in that fourth quarter and really played hard, got it to four at one point. It was a game we should've been a little more focused."

Josh Smith led the Hawks with 20 points. Al Horford had 13 and Jeff Teague and Shelvin Mack both scored 10 points apiece.

Kyle Korver extended the fourth-longest streak in NBA history for made 3- pointers on Monday. He's drained one from long range in 64 straight and Reggie Miller's third-place total of 68 in a row is next.

The Hawks have won 12 of their last 14 against the Raptors. Atlanta, which defeated Toronto back on Jan. 30, is 6-1 in its last seven in Toronto.