Raptors at Wizards
THE STORY: The Toronto Raptors gave the Miami Heat all they could handle Sunday afternoon before ultimately falling short. The Raptors will look to bounce back in a hurry as they visit the Washington Wizards on Monday in the third meeting of the season between the Eastern Conference bottom-feeders. Toronto stayed with the powerhouse Heat for most of the game but had no answer for LeBron James, who torched the Raptors for 30 points in a 95-89 victory. It was the third loss in four games for Toronto, with the only victory in that span coming against the Wizards on Friday. The teams have split their first two meetings, with the Wizards' victory ending their season-opening eight-game losing skid. Washington has lost four in a row, most recently dropping a 107-81 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), CS Washington
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (8-17): With leading scorer Andrea Bargnani still on the sidelines with a calf injury, the Raptors continue to look for players to step up offensively in his absence. DeMar DeRozan's 25-point performance against the Heat marked only the second time in the last six games that a Toronto player has broken the 20-point barrier. DeRozan was also the last Toronto player to turn the trick, dropping 27 points in a lopsided win over New Jersey in late January.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (4-20): Washington has one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, and that inexperience has played a major role in the club's struggles. Wizards coach Randy Wittman said he's becoming increasingly frustrated at the number of mistakes his young players are making. "Maybe I have to find another veteran guy," Wittman said. "It's one thing to put the young guys out there, but they also have to learn to compete at this level of competition."
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The home team has won the last seven head-to-head meetings.
2. Toronto, which has played the second-fewest home games in the Eastern Conference, begins a seven-game homestand Wednesday against Milwaukee.
3. Monday's game features two of the league's most anemic offenses. Washington is 26th in the NBA at 89.1 points per game, while the Raptors are 29th at 86.9.