Raptors at Wizards
The Washington Wizards played inspired basketball in their first game since learning that All-Star point guard John Wall would miss up to two months following knee surgery. They will try to knock off another top-notch opponent when they host the Toronto Raptors in the finale of a two-game homestand on Thursday.
The team announced the news on Wall on Tuesday and then went out and handed Oklahoma City its first loss in nine games with a 102-96 triumph, limiting Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook to 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting just five days after he dropped 46 in a win over Washington at home. "Everybody contributed to the win tonight," All-Star guard Bradley Beal told reporters after scoring 21 points and matching a career high with nine assists. "I didn't win this game by myself. It was a great team effort. All 15 guys came in and did their job and did what they're supposed to do. So it's a credit to everybody." The Raptors have an All-Star backcourt of their own in DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry and the duo combined for 38 points and 17 assists in a 109-104 win over Minnesota at home Tuesday night. Toronto is 19-4 at home and will return to Air Canada Centre to play four in a row after leaving Washington.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet ONE (Toronto), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (34-15): Toronto has won seven straight at Washington and it will lean heavily - as it always does - on DeRozan, who scored 19 of his 23 points after halftime to help rally past the Timberwolves. "We picked it up. We were a lot more aggressive, especially defensively," DeRozan - who is shooting 34.3 percent over his last four games - told reporters. Jonas Valanciunas helped to make up for some of DeRozan's inaccuracies with four straight double-doubles while making 33-of-51 shots.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (28-22): Otto Porter Jr. led the way with 25 points in the win over Oklahoma City and Tomas Satoransky made his second straight start in place of Wall a memorable one by helping to lock up Westbrook on the defensive end. "Tomas played well," coach Scott Brooks told the media. "Tomas really battled, and he was trying to stay in front of one of the fastest guards in the league. And with help from his teammates, we did a good job on Westbrook." Satoransky had six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block, although he did miss all four of his shot attempts.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards PF Markieff Morris is averaging 20.3 points - nearly double his season average - over the last three contests.
2. Raptors SF C.J. Miles (knee) missed Tuesday's win and is day-to-day.
3. The teams split two earlier meetings in Toronto with DeRozan averaging 29.5 points.