After a career-best 5 blocked shots on Monday, Jonas Valanciunas came back with a career-best 24 points on Wednesday, while leading Toronto past Washington. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘Washington Wizards’ Category
Thoughts On the Game: Raptors 88, Wizards 78
Posted by Oliver Macklem under DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, Quincy Acy, Recap, Rudy Gay, Washington Wizards on Apr 04, 2013
Game Thread: Raptors (27-45) @ Wizards (26-46)
Posted by Oliver Macklem under Game thread, Washington Wizards on Mar 31, 2013
The Wizards have won 6 straight home games and they handed the Raptors a crushing defeat (90-84 in Toronto) the last time these two tangled…
Start time: 6:00 PM ET
Channel: Sportsnet One
Probable starting lineups
Toronto: Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Amir Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas
Washington: John Wall, Garrett Temple, Martell Webster, Nene, Emeka Okafor
Injury report:
Toronto: Andrea Bargnani is out
Washington: Bradley Beal is out and Nene (knee) is a game-time decision
Random Thoughts:
-Raptors should have revenge on their minds, as the loss they suffered on February 19th at home to Washington was inexcusable for a team that still had playoff aspirations. Rudy Gay was 1-11 from the field in that game, while Kyle Lowry went 6-17. Toronto was giving up an average of 106.2 points during their recent 5-game losing streak but they appeared to find some defensive rhythm while holding Detroit to 82 points.
-Lowry will have his hands full with John Wall, who has been playing like a top-5 point guard in recent weeks. Over his last three home games, Wall is averaging 31 points per game (68.8% FG) and 9.3 assists per game.
-After their win against Detroit, Rudy Gay said “These young guys need to know what it feels like to win.” In Toronto’s last 5 games, Jonas Valanciunas is averaging 32.4 minutes (finally!), 14.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Terrence Ross is averaging 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds on 43.6% shooting in 21 minutes.
Thoughts On the Game: Wizards 90, Raptors 84
Posted by Oliver Macklem under Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan, Dwane Casey, John Lucas III, Kyle Lowry, Recap, Rudy Gay, Washington Wizards on Feb 26, 2013
The Wizards have now won three straight and seven of their last nine after Monday’s win in Toronto. They came into this game fresh off wins over Denver and Houston so there was no reason for any Raptors player to be taking this team lightly. Unfortunately, Toronto’s best player had a very indifferent approach to this game and as a result…
Game Thread: Raptors (23-33) vs. Wizards (17-37)
Posted by Joseph Casciaro under Game thread, Washington Wizards on Feb 25, 2013
Wow, the Wizards really want to contain Rudy, huh?
The Wizards are an improved team since John Wall’s return to the lineup, but the Raptors beat Wall and the Wiz just last week in Washington. If they want to keep the playoff talk going, they’ll need to beat them again tonight in Toronto.
Thoughts On the Game: Raptors 96, Wizards 88
Posted by Joseph Casciaro under Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan, John Lucas III, Jonas Valanciunas, Kyle Lowry, Recap, Rudy Gay, Washington Wizards on Feb 19, 2013
It was an ugly ball game and the Raptors beat a team that’s more than 20 games under .500, but the Wizards had been playing very well of late and the victory makes it five straight for the Raps while giving Toronto its first three-game road winning streak since 2007 and its first win in Washington since 2009.
Here are some thoughts on the game…
