Wizards at Raptors
The surging Toronto Raptors seek their seventh win in eight games when they host the Washington Wizards on Monday. Toronto’s strong play is due to the presence of newcomer Rudy Gay and also fueled by defensive improvement that has seen Toronto allow just 92.9 points in 10 February games. Washington has won back-to-back games since losing at home to the Raptors on Feb. 19. The Wizards rallied from 17 down for a 105-103 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
Gay and DeMar DeRozan each scored 24 points for Toronto in last Tuesday’s meeting. Bradley Beal scored 25 points for Washington. The Wizards are just 4-22 on the road, the worst mark in the NBA. Washington is 12-9 since point guard John Wall returned to the lineup. The Wizards were 5-28 while Wall was sidelined with a knee injury. Toronto defeated the New York Knicks for the second time in 10 days with a 100-98 victory on Friday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (Washington), TSN (Toronto)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (17-37): Beal had 21 points against Houston for his third 20-point outing in five games. He is averaging 20.2 points and five rebounds during the stretch and has raised his season scoring mark to 13.7. Beal has 10 20-point outings overall and has displayed that he is a good fit with Wall, giving the Wizards a solid young backcourt to rebuild around. Center Emeka Okafor has played well lately with three double-doubles in five games. He is averaging 15.6 points and 10.4 rebounds during the stretch.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (23-33): Gay scored a season-best 32 points in the victory over the Knicks and Toronto is 7-3 since acquiring him from the Memphis Grizzlies. Gay is averaging 21.4 points in the 10 games and has given the Raptors a second bona fide shooter to go with DeRozan. “You can give him the ball,” point guard Kyle Lowry said. “He’s a guy who can get that big bucket for you, he’s a guy who can shoot over the defense and make plays. He has the ability to make those shots. He doesn’t worry about making or taking those shots. He thinks he’s going to make them all.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Toronto has recorded five straight home victories over Washington.
2. Wall was 1-of-12 shooting and committed seven turnovers in the recent loss to the Raptors. He scored nine points.
3. Slam dunk champion Terrence Ross (illness) is a game-time decision. He missed Toronto’s win over New York.