Raptors Look To Extend Series Lead Against Wizards: Preview & 3 Keys
After securing a game one victory for the first time in 17 years the Raptors look to once again successfully defend home court.
The Toronto Raptors will once again host the Washington Wizards Tuesday evening. On the heels of a thrilling victory in game one, the Raptors will look to do it all again in game 2. Tuesday’s contest could be the final time Toronto plays at home in the first round.
Serge Ibaka tied John Wall for a game high 23 points on Saturday. The 27-year-old power forward shot 72% from the field, 75% from three-point range, and 100% from the free-throw line. In addition to his impressive shooting, Ibaka also grabbed 12 rebounds to give him a double-double.
A nice surprise for the Raptors in game one was the play of OG Anunoby. The rookie forward received the starting assignment in his first Playoff game and finished with 12 points. Toronto could use another solid outing from their first year sensation come Tuesday.
The Raptors will need a more efficient showing from Jonas Valanciunas in game two. Washington was able to hold JV to a mere 9 points and 9 rebounds. The 25-year old also received limited minutes in the second half and did not grab any offensive rebounds.
Fred VanVleet did not suit up on Saturday due to a shoulder injury. While it remains unclear if he will play on Tuesday, Toronto’s coaching staff can breathe a sigh of relief after Delon Wright’s performance in Game 1. Wright scored 18 points on 70% shooting and added 4 assists. The 25-year old thrived in his role as the sixth man however, he will need to limit his turnovers.
Speaking of point guards, Kyle Lowry dished out a team high 9 assists. The 32-year old also inspired his teammates with some tenacious defense. Although Lowry was extremely unselfish on Saturday, he should look to shoot more in game two.
Washington’s starters played a combined average of 35.8 minutes on Saturday afternoon. Expect Wizards Head Coach Scott Brooks to give his reserves a longer leash on Tuesday in order to keep his starters fresh for the long haul. Kelly Oubre Jr is bound to make a bigger impact in game two.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Otto Porter Jr in game two. Porter was coming off of a calf strain and it looked to be hindering him at times on Saturday. His sub-par performance on the offensive end was likely a result of lingering issues with his calf. If the 24-year old is 100% for Tuesday’s contest he could be a problem for the Raptors.
Keys To Victory
- Continue to shoot smart threes. The Raptors shot 53% as a team from three-point range in game one. If the team can once again take smart shots and capitalize on wide-open opportunities from long range they will win game two. CJ Miles converted on a team high 4 three pointers on Saturday.
- Limit turnovers. Toronto turned the ball over 17 times in game one. Although they did average 13 turnovers per game during the regular season, the Raptors will need to take better care of the ball in game two if they hope to be victorious. Toronto cannot allow this high number of turnovers to become a trend throughout their Playoff run.
- Generate second chance points. Neither team was that great on the offensive boards in Game 1. The Wizards grabbed 6 and the Raptors 5. The Raptors had the paint open for them all game long and being able to generate second chance points on Tuesday will help them in the long run.
Prediction:
This Washington Wizards team is not your regular eighth seed. Any team that has John Wall is going to be tough to put away. If the Raptors can once again drain the three ball and step up their offensive rebounding they should find themselves victorious. Toronto will need to come out treating this contest like a Game 7.
Final score: Wizards 98 – Raptors 106