TORONTO -- Embarrassed by the Toronto Raptors 13 days ago, the Atlanta Hawks made up for that poor performance in the rematch.Dwight Howard had 27 points and 15 rebounds for his 17th double-double of the season to lead the Hawks to a 125-121 victory over the Raptors on Friday night.Toronto had a franchise-record 44-point victory over its Eastern Conference rival on Dec. 3. In this one, Atlanta responded with a season-high scoring effort and shot a season-best 53.5 percent from the field.I thought our energy was better tonight, Howard said. We locked in on defense and we forced some of their guys to take tough shots. I thought last game they just got any shot they wanted.The Raptors made the game close down the stretch with 39 points in the fourth quarter, closing to within three on DeMar DeRozans layup with 10.6 seconds left. However, Dennis Schroder converted a free throw with 6.7 seconds to re-establish a four-point Atlanta edge, and Kyle Lowrys miss on a 3 with 1.9 seconds left ended Torontos comeback effort.Despite the frantic finish, overall Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer was pleased with his teams defensive effort.The first half I thought the defense was very good, theres maybe some slippage in the second but anytime you can come in here and get a win, you are doing something on both ends of the court, he said.Kyle Korver did his best to help on the offensive end with a season-high 19 points, including a season-high six 3-pointers, while Schroder added 24 points.For the Raptors, DeRozan had 34 points, his third straight 30-point outing and 14th of the season to tie a career high, with Lowry adding another 24, including a season-high-equaling six 3-pointers, as Toronto saw its four-game winning streak come to an end. The defeat to Atlanta was Torontos fourth against an Eastern Conference club, but its first to someone other than Cleveland.After allowing an opponent season-high 69 points in the first half, and getting outrebounded 44-26, Toronto coach Dwane Casey was less than impressed with his teams defensive effort. Thats something he has preached even as his team has scored 100 points in 13 consecutive games, the second longest streak in team history and the longest active one in the NBA.We scored enough points, 121 points, shooting 54 percent, 47 percent from the 3, Casey said. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure out where our problem is.While Lowry agreed with his coachs assessment, he was also happy to give credit to Atlanta, particularly given the 128-84 score the last time the two teams met.They played aggressive and they played like they wanted to win, he said. Tip our hats to them, its one game for us and they beat us fair and square. We will look at the film; they beat us tonight, they really beat us.TIP-INSHawks: G Tim Hardaway remained in the starting lineup for the third straight game even as usual starter G Kent Bazemore returned after missing the last two games with right knee soreness.Raptors: C Lucas Nogueira returned to the starting lineup after missing Wednesdays game with a sore right knee. ... The crowd at Air Canada Centre observed a moments silence in memory of late TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager. ... In defeat, the Raptors scored at least 120 points for the eighth time this season, one shy of the franchise record of nine, set in the 2014-15 and 2005-06 seasons.SWEET 16With his second of two free throws with 1:15 to go in the first half, Howard became the NBAs newest member of the 16,000-point club. The shot gave him a first-half high 18 points.UP NEXTHawks: Host Charlotte on Saturday with Atlanta looking for a fifth straight home win against the Hornets.Raptors: At Orlando on Sunday for the first of four meetings between the teams this season. 49ers Stitched Jerseys . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Fred Warner Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. http://www.authentic49ersshopnfl.com/jullian-taylor-jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Marcell Harris Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Authentic 49ers Jerseys . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Miami has suspended wide receiver Sam Bruce for three games and defensive lineman Gerald Willis for one game for violations of team rules.The school announced the suspensions Saturday, before the Hurricanes season-opener at home against Florida A&M.Willis will be eligible to return on Sept. 10 when Miami plays host to Florida Atlantic. Bruce will miss that game and a Sept. 17 trip to Appalachian State, with his date for return targeted ass the Hurricanes Atlantic Coast Conference opener at Georgia Tech.ddddddddddddBruce is a true freshman. Willis is a transfer from Florida who has yet to appear in a game with Miami.The suspensions come about a week after Miami permanently dismissed would-be defensive starters Al-Quadin Muhammad and Jermaine Grace for other violations. China Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Authentic Jerseys ' ' '