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Struggling Hawks hope to regroup vs. Raptors

Jan 19, 2009 - 2:02 PM Toronto (16-26) at Atlanta (23-16) 2:00 p.m. EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Hawks are on their way down. The Toronto Raptors have already hit the bottom.

The Hawks will be looking for just their second win in the last seven games when they face the Raptors on Monday.

Atlanta has seen its defense go into the tank along with its record of late. After allowing more than 100 points seven times in the first 28 games of the season, the Hawks have let their opponents over the century mark eight times in the last 11 contests.

They have surrendered an average of 112.4 in their last five losses, including a 119-114 setback at Golden State on Friday. Atlanta allowed the Warriors to shoot 51 percent (41-of-81) from the floor and surrendered 36 points in the fourth quarter.

But the Hawks have not get to face a team struggling just as badly in the Raptors, who have dropped five straight to fall into the Atlantic Division basement.

Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani have continued their strong play of late, but injuries to center Jermaine O'Neal and point guard Jose Calderon have taken their toll. The absence of two starters has left the bench extremely thin.

All five starters scored at least 15 points and Toronto shot 54 percent (44-of-82) from the floor on Sunday but the team still fell, 117-113, at home against the Phoenix Suns. The bench contributed a total of 14 points.

The teams have split two meetings this season, with the Raptors taking the most recent contest, 93-88, behind 30 points and 10 rebounds from Bosh on November 28.