LOWRY STEPS UP IN STYLE
Kyle Lowry, the Raptors’ high scorer with 28 points, celebrates after draining a three-pointer late in Saturday night’s 117-113 victory over the Wizards in Washington.
The cards were stacked against the Raptors in Washington on Saturday night. It was the second game of the first back-toback of the season against a motivated team in the Wizards, who were looking to bounce back after dropping their season opener and were eliminated from the playoffs by the Raptors last spring. Also, the Raptors were playing without the redhot Kawhi Leonard — rested due to “load management,” according to the team. In the end, though, it was no Kawhi, no problem for the Raptors in a 117-113 win. Kyle Lowry stepped up, particularly in a nailbiting fourth quarter when he put up 13 points.
Points spread: Seven Raptors scored in double digits, a necessary counter to Washington’s electric backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal, who combined for 57 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists.
Keeping it fresh: Raptors coach Nick Nurse had Norm Powell replace Leonard in the starting lineup, while OG Anunoby came in for Pascal Siakam and Jonas Valanciunas for Serge Ibaka. They joined Lowry and Danny Green, the only players to start all three games. Delon Wright still has yet to play because of a left adductor strain. Lowry stays lit: Any concerns about Lowry’s ability to carry the load without Leonard were knocked down — along with a fan’s beer — early in the third quarter when the point guard went flying into the stands to keep a ball in play on the way to his first double-double of the season — 28 points and 12 assists in a team-high 34:36 minutes. There was a nod to his former teammate, all-star DeMar DeRozan, with ghost high fives after hitting a pair of free throws in the fourth.
The hard way: It was the second quarter before either team managed to build much a lead, with the Raptors jumping ahead by 12 points. But a turnover by Lowry plus a turnover and a foul by Powell helped Washington go on an 11-0 run that brought the home team within three at the half. After six turnovers early in the third quarter, the Raptors locked in and took an eight-point lead into the fourth.
Late and great: Players not named Lowry, Valanciunas or Anunoby combined for just 19 of Toronto’s 57 first-half points. The rest of the lineup upped the ante in the second half, though, with 42 of the Raptors’ 60 points.
The other guys: The Wizards were without centre Dwight Howard for a second straight game with a buttocks injury … Wizards coach Scott Brooks was ejected midway through the fourth quarter after arguing a technical foul called on Beal.
What’s ahead? The Raptors are off Sunday before hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Monday to open a three-game homestand.