Wizards stop Raptors’ win streak
Toronto loses ‘stinker’ at home 105-96 with just 11 assists as a team
TORONTO (CP) — Playing their fourth game without all-star guard Kyle Lowry, the Toronto Raptors lost 105-96 to Eastern Conference rival Washington Wizards on Wednesday to end a four-game winning streak.
And in a sombre post-game dressing room, DeMar DeRozan lamented the absence of his back-court teammate, who is recovering from wrist surgery.
“It’s going to be a challenge for us, playing with (Lowry) throughout the whole year and now at the end of the year having news guys coming in and not having him,” said DeRozan, who lingered long at his locker, head down, scrolling through his phone. “It’s going to be a challenge, but we’ve got to figure it out.”
DeRozan had 24 points to top the Raptors (36-25), while Serge Ibaka had 22 points and 12 rebounds. Norm Powell finished with 17 points, Cory Joseph — starting for Lowry — had 11 points but just one assist, and Jonas Valanciunas grabbed 11 boards to go with seven points.
Bojan Bogdanovic led Washington (36-23) with 27 points.
The Raptors had just 11 assists on the night — three through three quarters.
“That can’t happen,” coach Dwane Casey said. “The ball’s got to move and get in a rhythm and we were a little out of sync and I felt that carried over to the defensive end.
“Tonight was a stinker all the way around. Not just the defence, the defence started it and then it carried over to the offensive end. I thought not making baskets sapped our defensive energy and just took the wind out of us.”
Durant out indefinitely with left knee injury
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Durant is down for the immediate future with a knee injury, and that’s a huge blow on both ends of the floor for the playoff-bound, championship-chasing Golden State Warriors.
Stephen Curry and Co. are going to have to carry on without KD perhaps for the remainder of the regular season — maybe longer.
Durant is out indefinitely after he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and bruised a bone in his leg during Tuesday night’s loss at Washington.
The Warriors said Wednesday that their medical staff hasn’t ruled out a Durant return before the end of the regular season, though nobody is predicting at this stage.
“At this time it’s just speculation to guess when that is,” general manager Bob Myers said in a conference call. “He’ll heal as his body heals. And when he’s healed and our doctors clear him and we feel like it’s safe, he’ll play.”
Durant is scheduled to be reevaluated in four weeks — with about two weeks remaining in the regular season.
In his first season with Golden State, Durant leads the Warriors in scoring and rebounding with 25.3 points and 8.2 boards along with 4.8 assists.