Siakam, Anunoby help Toronto zap Wizards
TORONTO — Pascal Siakam had 44 points and OG Anunoby added 22, both career highs, as the Toronto Raptors rallied to down the Washington Wizards 129-120 on Wednesday for their sixth straight win
Kawhi Leonard (knee soreness) was out but newly-acquired guard Jeremy Lin was in for the Raptors (43-16) in a makeshift lineup.
After trailing by 10 early, Washington was up by six at the half and pushed the lead to 12 in the third at 80-68. But a 20-2 Toronto run with Kyle Lowry leading the way turned the tide in a back-and-forth game.
The Raptors, stiffening their defence, outscored the Wizards 44-28 in the third to lead 103-93.
Washington (24-34) kept clawing its way back and got to within one at 112-111. But Lowry and Siakam reeled off a 7-0 run and Toronto held firm the rest of the way as the Wizard fightback faded.
It was the last game for both teams before the allstar break. The Raptors and Wizards resume play Feb. 22, with Toronto welcoming DeMar DeRozan and the San Antonio Spurs.
Both teams had six players in double figures. Bradley Beal and Jeff Green led Washington with 28 and 23, respectively. Jabari Parker had 22.
Lowry had 14 points and 13 assists. Lin finished with eight points, five assists and five rebounds.
Siakam’s previous career high was 33 points with Anunoby’s at 21. Siakam, who scored 30 points in the second half, added 10 rebounds and two assists.
Toronto’s 43 wins before the all-star break are a franchise record. The Raptors have won 13 of their last 14 at Scotiabank Arena and are 24-5 at home.
The Wizards, coming off a 121-112 loss Monday in Detroit, have lost five of their last seven. Toronto was the third stop of a four-game road trip.
Lowry came out hot, feeding Siakam for a dunk and Green for an alley-oop layup. The Wizards, meanwhile missed their first six shots as Toronto opened an early 10-point lead at 12-2 before rallying to cut the margin to 16-14.
Lin entered to a standing ovation with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter. He promptly stole the ball, only to turn it over on the ensuing fast break. His first assist as a Raptor led to a Green three-pointer.
Lin, a nine-year NBA veteran who attended Harvard, wore the No. 17 that used to belong to the recently departed Jonas Valanciunas, now with Memphis. His Toronto debut came seven years and one day after he sank a memorable three-pointer at the final buzzer that gave the visiting New York Knicks a 90-87 win over the Raptors.