Despite being among the worst-performing teams in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors and Wizards delivered a thrilling finish to their first of two scheduled matchups on Toronto's home court, as Jamal Shead's last-ditch attempt to clinch the victory was ultimately ruled a no-basket.
This time around, on March 10, the Toronto Raptors did not need to worry about Washington teeter-tottering their way back into a swing of momentum. The boys up north were able to topple the Wizards with a comfortable lead, winning with a final score of 119-104.
Speaking of "boys up north," the Raptors received a surprise breakout from one of their Canadian talents, as two-way wing AJ Lawson stood out as the game's highlight player with a dominant double-double performance.
Toronto-native AJ Lawson takes center stage for the Raptors
Lawson recorded a box score stat line of 32 points (a career high) on 9-for-21 shooting from the field and an impressive 7-for-14 from three-point range, along with 12 rebounds, finishing with a plus/minus of +15.
According to TSN's Raptors insider Josh Lewenberg on X, Lawson's career-defining outing etched his name not only in Toronto's franchise history books but also brought him close to setting an NBA record: "With 32 points, A.J. Lawson has the highest scoring game for a Raptors player on a 2-way contract, topping Jalen Harris (31 points). It's tied for 2nd-most anybody has ever scored on a 2-way deal.
He's the 4th Canadian to score 30+ for the Raps, joining Barrett, Boucher & Joseph"
Now, I get that it's late in the season and we're talking about the Washington Wizards as the opposition here, but a 32-point performance from a two-way talent who wasn't expected to contribute much to the main roster is always a positive sign.
Lawson might never reach NBA star status, but he'll always have this one random March game in the 2024-25 regular season where he looked like a million bucks. The Raptors have had surprise players go off for 30-plus points in years past, of course, including the previously mentioned Jalen Harris (remember him?), Paul Watson Jr. (there's another throwback for ya), and Rexdale's finest, Dalano Banton.
So, what's the verdict here after Lawson made his case as a key piece to the Raptors' success on this given night? Has Masai Ujiri done it again by finding a hidden gem amidst the fiercely competitive NBA landscape?
I won’t overblow this performance or expect too much, but Lawson demonstrated that he has the potential to be a great reserve wing, warranting a long-term spot on the Raptors' roster. It would be foolish to expect Lawson to perform at this caliber on a night-to-night basis (although that would be incredible if he eventually did). However, at the very least, Ujiri and the Raptors are now put on notice regarding his offensive firepower.
He had already shown glimpses of this ability, helping out in that Magic game that ended with a Ja'Kobe Walter game-winner earlier this month, but Lawson's performance here against the Wizards laid the smackdown in emphatic fashion.
In a position alongside other low-tier Raptors talents in this late-season stretch, like Colin Castleton, Jared Rhoden, and Orlando Robinson (who's been solid in his own right), Lawson looks like he has a good chance of surviving to see a further role in the Raptors franchise, whether it's with the 905 or as a main roster guy, for the foreseeable future.
Lawson is still relatively young at just 24 years old, and the fact that he brings another element of Canadian pride, being a Toronto native no less, makes it perfectly logical for his career to take off as a member of the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors have a quality hometown star on their hands in RJ Barrett, but recent rumors have put his tenure on the hot seat, suggesting he could emerge as a potential trade asset in the offseason. If Barrett were to somehow depart the Raptors, the team could still salvage that local spirit in Lawson, even if he's not quite on par with the "Maple Mamba."
That said, Raptors nation should be reminded not to expect Lawson to be the best thing since sliced bread. I feel that recency bias often leads to inflated expectations for these types of players who break out. Nonetheless, he's a solid player, and Masai Ujiri definitely deserves a tip of the cap for scouting Lawson's talents.