Wizards at Raptors
THE STORY: The Toronto Raptors must live with the ignominy of having been the first team to lose to the Washington Wizards this season. They'll be looking for revenge Friday night as they host the Wizards in a battle of two teams already looking ahead to next season. With a combined record of 11-34 between them, the Wizards and Raptors are well out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. But Friday's showdown still has meaning for both clubs after the Wizards defeated Toronto 93-78 back on Jan. 10 to end a season-opening eight-game losing skid. Washington manhandled the Raptors up front in that one - scoring 54 points in the paint - and could enjoy a similar advantage Friday with star Toronto forward Andrea Bargnani still nursing a calf injury. The Raptors are coming off consecutive one-sided losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics, surrendering 100 points in each game while failing to crack 80 themselves. Washington has also dropped two straight and has just one victory in 10 road games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Washington, TSN2
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (4-18): Washington battled hard in its last game but ultimately fell short, dropping a 109-103 decision in Orlando. Afterward, head coach Randy Wittman pointed at the free throw disparity (39-9 in favor of the Magic) as evidence his young team isn't getting any breaks. "It's hard to win a game 39 free throws to nine, let alone be in a game," Wittman said. "We got nine guys on their rookie contracts. Right now they're not getting the respect."
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (7-16): Toronto players were supposed to have Thursday off following a rough back-to-back against the Hawks and Celtics. Head coach Dwane Casey scrapped the plan, opting to put his club through a vigorous workout. "We owe it to the City of Toronto, our organization and ourselves," Casey said when asked about his decision to put his players through their paces. The Raptors haven't had two consecutive off-days all season.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams have split their last 10 meetings, with the home side winning six straight encounters.
2. Toronto should have Linas Kleiza back in the lineup after the veteran forward missed Wednesday's game in Boston to rest his surgically repaired knee.
3. Toronto's schedule eases in a major way at the end of the month. The club enjoys four days of rest prior to a Feb. 22 game against Detroit, followed by five more days off due to the All-Star break.