Raptors start well, end well to whip Wizards and bolster their play-in berth chances

The Raptors weren’t exactly wizards of the hardwood on Sunday evening, but they were good enough.

A quick start and an equally efficient finish did the trick as the Raptors survived a horrible third quarter and emerged with a 114-104 win over the visiting Washington Wizards.

A win, as they say, is a win and with the regular season about to make way for the playoffs and the Raptors knee-deep to secure a spot in the play-in tournament, no one should be expecting excellence.

At 37-38, the Raps are tied with Atlanta for eighth in the East but, more importantly are now four games up on Indiana and Washington, which sit just outside the play-in line.

Without its best player, Bradley Beal (knee), Monte Morris (groin) and Kyle Kuzma (ankle), the Wizards never led at Scotiabank Arena and trailed by as many as 21 points.

But to its credit, Washington maintained a pulse began the second half outplaying the Raptors and turned it into a game with a 16-4 run in the third quarter. With three minutes left in the third, Washington had scored 28 points and by the end of the quarter, the Raptors’ lead was only 87-84.

Then came the fourth and the Raptors decided to take their game to the edges of desperation to secure the win.

Interestingly, the fateful start to the fourth would see two starters in O.G. Anunoby and Scottie Barnes on the floor with reserves Jeff Dowtin Jr., Chris Boucher and Christian Koloko.

What was a one-possession game would turn into a double-digit lead for the Raptors, who would never look back.

Post-game, Anunoby, who led all scorers with 29 points, summed up the night quite succinctly.
“Good start, good way to end, bad third quarter,’’ said Anunoby, who led the way early by scoring 18 points in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 29..

Toronto’s Big 3 of Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam — who began the night by going scoreless in the opening 12 minutes — combined for 76 points.

VanVleet recorded a team-high seven assists to complement his 28-point outing.

The one discouraging note played out in that third quarter when Washington torched the Raptors for 38 points after scoring 46 points during the opening half.

“Any combination of not playing hard and taking bad shots is bad for the team,” said VanVleet in summing up Toronto’s putrid third period.

The evening’s first quarter featured a goose-egg by Siakam, who entered the night having posted back-to-back 30-point games. Siakam heaved four shots in the opening 12 minutes, and missed each one in recording more turnovers (1) than points (0).

When Siakam goes scoreless, one would think the Raptors would have a tough time on the offensive end.
Instead, it was Toronto’s defence, which limited Washington to 33% shooting, that would set the table.

The main beneficiary would be Anunoby, who went 7-for-10 from the field. Anunoby also hauled down six rebounds and did not commit a turnover in pacing the home side to a 37-21 advantage after the opening period.

The game began with Barnes (wrist soreness) back in the starting rotation, a five-man unit that featured Siakam, Anunoby, VanVleet and Jakob Poeltl.

At the break, the Raptors were deserving of their 63-46 lead as three players — Anunoby, Siakam and VanVleet — each reached double digits in scoring.

Toronto’s trio combined to net 49 of its team’s first-half points.

IF THERE’S A WILL

Normally, there’s a way when the necessary will is summoned. In the case of veteran Will Barton, there was no way of returning from a left ankle sprain.

Barton began the game as the first player off Toronto’s bench. When the Raptors forced a turnover four minutes in, it was Barton who would finish at the rim to score his first two points.

Turns out it was his final basket. On the sequence, he landed awkwardly exited the game with his ankle injury.

Precious Achiuwa, who returned following a hamstring setback, checked in for Barton.

UNICORN ON THE COB

Raptors head honcho Masai Ujiri shared a brief pre-game moment with Wizards’ Kristaps Porzingis, basketball’s unicorn who proved tough to stop Sunday night.

Porzingis is one of the best players not born in the NBA, even though his game isn’t as explosive as when the big man from Latvia first joined the league with the New York Knicks.

On a championship-ready team, Porzingis would be the ideal third option, his salary notwithstanding.
Washington is not ready to win a title and hasn’t been ready for what seems like forever.

Porzingis scored 26 points in a losing effort.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Care for a wager? Head to our sports betting section for news and odds.