Grades from Raptors’ convincing win over Washington

The Toronto Raptors finished with 22 made threes, a franchise record, in a 140-111 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday. Let’s hand out the game grades:

The Toronto Raptors have spent the better part of the 2019-20 season shorthanded, having to find different ways to win seemingly every night as players come and go out of Nick Nurse’s lineup.

But Nurse’s Men are getting healthy, and it’s showing in the results.

The 140 points scored in Friday night’s 140-111 victory, over a disinterested Wizards team, set a new franchise record for most points scored in regulation. Only in overtime had a previous Raptors team reached such heights on offence. Norman Powell led all scorers with 28 points.

Powell has been effective in three games since returning from injury, averaging nearly 24 points (23.7) while shooting 64 percent from the field, including 55 percent from the beyond the arc (11 for 20). Will he still be a Raptor after the trade deadline? His stock is rising. Rapidly.

Marc Gasol tied a career-high, making six threes in the win. The big Spaniard filled Friday’s box score to the tune of 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in 29 minutes of action. He was also +27 on the night, highest on the team. The 34-year-old looks refreshed, is fully healthy again and has certainly been more aggressive on offence since returning to game action.

Friday’s victory marked Toronto’s seventh win in a row over the Wizards and saw it finish +15 in fast-break points (34-19) and +18 in points in the paint — add that to the most made threes ever in a single game (22) and you have all the ingredients for a Scotiabank blowout sale. Frankly, from the opening tip, it felt like one of those nights where Washington didn’t stand a chance…the hosts were buzzing from the opening tip til the final buzzer.

Now let’s check out some grades, shall we?