Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Hawks having to enter Air Canada Centre to play the Toronto Raptors looked to be a tough test for the Eastern Conference leaders.
The Hawks didn't make it look that way.
Al Horford scored 22 points and helped Atlanta to its 11th straight win in a 110-89 decision over the Raptors on Friday night.
Horford, who made all eight of his field goal attempts, added five rebounds and five assists for a Hawks team that also won its 11th straight road game, extending the franchise record.
Atlanta has not won 11 straight overall since it did so in 1997-98. The franchise record for consecutive wins is 14 from Nov. 16-Dec. 14, 1993.
Paul Millsap added 16 points with eight rebounds, while Jeff Teague registered 13 points and nine assists in the win.
"Our defensive activity put us into position to get some baskets," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "They are a very, very good team. And a tough team to beat here in Toronto. Just a good team win."
DeMar DeRozan, playing in his second game since a return from a groin injury, led the Raptors with 25 points. James Johnson added 17 points off the bench.
Atlanta rested a majority of its starters over its past two games against lesser competition -- wins over Philadelphia and Boston -- in preparation of the showdown in Toronto.
It proved to work, as the Hawks played with a healthy lead for most of the night.
Atlanta scored the first seven points of the second quarter to open up a 31-19 lead. Tyler Hansbrough then scored the final four points of a 9-2 spurt that kept the Raptors in striking distance.
The Hawks had one last run in them to close the half, though. Teague contributed on four of the five baskets over the final 3:03 as Atlanta ended the period on an 11-2 run that gave it a 52-38 lead at the break.
Teague, Millsap and Kyle Korver each hit a 3-pointer in the opening two minutes of the third to extend the margin to 61-41. Teague then followed a Korver 3 with a layup that made it a 24-point game, 72-48, prior to the midway point of the quarter.
Atlanta took a comfortable 85-68 lead into the fourth and led by as many as 26 in the final frame to continue its impressive streak.
"That game right there was not us," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "We're still in that rut. The only way to get out of it is work our way out of it."
Game Notes
Toronto, which dropped its sixth game in eight tries, had won three straight in the series ... Atlanta has won 25 of its last 27 overall ... The Hawks shot 60.9 percent from the floor and limited Toronto to 42.7 percent shooting ... Atlanta had 30 assists in the win ... DeMarre Carroll and Korver scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, for Atlanta ... The Hawks will travel to Chicago for a meeting against the Bulls on Saturday.
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