Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Apr.2/08

In three NBA seasons, Josh Smith has built a reputation on fierce play in the paint.

Smith won't hesitate to shoot jumpers, though, if the Atlanta Hawks need a big basket.

``I'm not a three-point shooter,'' he said, ``but if it comes to me, I'll take it.''

Mike Bibby hit a tying three-pointer in regulation, Smith made two in overtime, and the Hawks beat the Toronto Raptors 127-120 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Atlanta increased its lead for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot to four games over Indiana, which lost 92-77 at Boston.

Toronto is tied for fifth place with Washington and Philadelphia, but Raptors coach Sam Mitchell might file a protest with the NBA after the officials discounted T.J. Ford's basket with no time remaining.

Mitchell argued with referee Mark Wunderlich, who watched the instant replay, that Philips Arena officials started the clock early with just 0.5 seconds remaining.

``We had some opportunities tonight, but things just didn't go our way in the end,'' Mitchell said. ``Sometimes these things happen.''

Smith's three-pointer from the right side, making it 114-113 with 2:05 left in overtime, gave the Hawks their first lead since Josh Childress hit a pair of free throws with 4:25 left in the second quarter.

Chris Bosh's three-point play put Atlanta back ahead with 1:18 to play, but Bibby followed with a three before Josh Childress blocked Ford's jump shot. Smith's three from nearly the same spot as his previous attempt made it 122-118.

Ford thought his basket at the end of regulation should've counted. The Hawks were fooled badly on the play, which was designed for Ford to line up at the top of the key and run toward Carlos Delfino and catch an inbounds pass.

Instead, Ford ran easily into the lane and jumped for Delfino's alley-oop pass. The officials originally ruled that Ford banked in his basket as the horn sounded.

``I thought it could go either way,'' Ford said. ``I didn't want to get too excited.''

Bosh had 24 points for Toronto, and Ford finished with 23 points and 13 assists. Rasho Nesterovic scored 21 points and reserve guard Jose Calderon handed out 10 assists for the Raptors.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 28 points. Bibby had 26 and Smith finished with 24. Bibby and Johnson combined for 23 assists. Al Horford pulled down 11 rebounds.

Bibby forced overtime with a three-pointer from the left corner, taking Childress' inbound bounce pass from the baseline and faking out Ford.

Not one to show much emotion, Bibby denied that he celebrated with a little dance.

``It was a walk,'' he said with a smile. ``My mom will not like it.''

Leading by 17 on Nesterovic's runner with 1:09 left in the third, Toronto had almost nothing go right after Jamario Moon's 18-footer gave it a 105-98 lead with 5:19 remaining.

The Raptors made just one basket in their last nine possessions of regulation _ a six-foot runner by Ford that gave them a 107-104 lead with 1:32 left.

Toronto was 15-for-20 from the field in the third quarter, led by Anthony Parker's 4-for-4, before everyone but Ford and Bosh went cold.

``When you're on the road playing in a tough environment, you have to execute,'' Bosh said. ``The Hawks have been playing very well, and we knew they would make a run. We did a pretty good job withstanding the run, but everything just didn't fall our way tonight. I wouldn't take anything away from Atlanta. They played hard tonight.''

For Smith, who grew up in Atlanta and entered the NBA straight from high school, winning a tight game was just what the playoff-starved Hawks needed.

``We're confident,'' Smith said. ``We feel good about ourselves. We feel like the sky's the limit for this team. We're not taking nights off.''

Notes: With a 35-40 record, Atlanta matched its highest victory total since 2002-03. ... The Hawks, who haven't made the playoffs since 1999, will put first-round tickets on sale Saturday. ... They beat the Raptors for the first time in five tries. ... Nesterovic's three-pointer at the end of the first quarter was his first in 11 career regular-season attempts.

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• Apr.2/08

[JinMedia]

First of all, the refs should have reviewed the clock after Bibby's three, because there should have been about 0.7 on the clock after he hit it. And then they started the clock too damn early on that beautiful out of bounds play. Derek Fisher can hit a game winning jump shot with 0.4 but TJ can't hit an ally-oop layup with 0.5? Give me a break.

Atlanta has the most corrupt building in the NBA, IT'S BULLSHIT!!

[TheRealBeeQue]

stfu atlanta sucks balls sacks just like u Raptors > Atlanta

[RandomPedestrian63]

@TheRealBeeQue hows that working out for you

[fulatl111]

@JinMedia i agree that the officials should have reviewed Bibby's three, but that doesnt mean that we have the most corrupt building in the NBA. First off, thats the first time I ever heard that. Secondly, the Raptors announcers themselves say the ball was still on his fingertip. I know this game was over 4 years ago, but your comment annoyed me

[23Pierce23]

@tylerdurden869 We know that dummie , they started the clock too soon

[tylerdurden869]

@JinMedia Clearly the ball was still in his hands at the buzzer. Quit whining!

[stevechen1991]

i swear Hawks has the worst fans haha,look how good there team is and they got one of the best highflyers to watch Jsmoove.....and the arena is pretty much empty haha

[donaldcampbell7122]

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Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Apr.2/08

[benfrank41]

monuow you play ball? you gotta check out - (50 inch vertical [dot] com) - It's a specialized workout that will make sure you start dunking without even going to the gym if you don t want to!

Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Apr.2/08

[frankwatts16]

monuow that's why I love NBA perhaps even though it has its flaws. I'm completing this exercise system that's utilized even by NBA players - 50inch vertical[dot]com - I'm already jumping higher and leading my team on the court!

Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Apr.2/08

[Atlhawksjj]

you want a fair game...how about 146-115?