Toronto Raptors defeat Washington Wizards in back-and-forth battle
After two consecutive losses, the Toronto Raptors were able to hold-serve against the Washington Wizards in a back-and-forth battle.
The term must win is over-used in sports, particularly in the NBA. However, with a loss on Wednesday night, things would be looking bleak for the Toronto Raptors. That is a moot point now, as the Raptors defeated the Washington Wizards in a game that is sure to give even the steadiest of nerves a mini-anxiety attack.
The game was played within a five-point margin essentially the entire contest. Toronto led for a majority of the game, with Washington seemingly a possession or two behind, ready to strike.
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Early on it was all DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan scored 13 first-quarter points and dished out two assists. He and the other starters helped give Toronto a five-point lead early. Unfortunately for the Raptors, that lead did not last long as the bench unit allowed Washington run to end the half, giving the Wizards a one-point lead.
The Wizards run leaked into the beginning of the second. Then, for the first time this post season, Toronto’s bench mob went on a run. The Wizards five-point lead evaporated as Toronto flipped the switch and seized a six-point lead of their own. However, persistent as always Washington fought back and cut the lead to just one, heading into half.
The third-quarter proved to be the most entertaining one yet. Teams matched one another with basket after basket and the difference remained one heading into the fourth quarter.
Things went poorly to start the fourth for the Toronto Raptors. An early fourth-quarter run allowed Washington to take a five-point lead, their largest in the game. Toronto answered. After Jonas Valanciunas and DeMar DeRozan checked into the game the Raptors took control and never looked back. Ultimately the game finished with a ten-point margin, but anyone watching knew it was much closer than that.
After being outplayed in games three and four, the Raptors backcourt was a deciding factor in Wednesday’s win. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry combined for 49-points on greater than 50-percent shooting and dished out 15 assists. Meanwhile, backup point guard Delon Wright, returned to his game one form. Wright scored 18-points 60-percent shooting while impacting the game on the other end of the court as well.
As the Raptors look towards game six, there are still several adjustments that need to be made. Toronto was killed on the glass, out-rebounded 50-35. Washington is also unlikely to shoot just 19-percent from beyond the arc for a second consecutive game. With game six in Washington, the Raptors will need to tighten up a few areas if they don’t want to this series to last a full seven games.
Next: Three takeaways from the Wizards series
The Toronto Raptors will play against the Washington Wizards for game six of the playoff series 7:00 PM ET.