Matt Tierney – Raptors.com
Time: (7PM ET – SN1, TSN1050)
It’s back on the road in Washington tonight to take on the Wizards (6-7). This will be a short trip for the Raptors (10-6) who return home Sunday, for seven of the next eight at Air Canada Centre. The Raps go into tonight well rested after a Drake Night win on Wednesday over Cleveland. Washington is coming off a 33 point defeat in Boston last night.
WHO’S HOT?
Marcin Gortat – “The Polish Hammer,” has kicked it up a notch of late posting a combined 21 rebounds in Washington’s back-to-back earlier this week. Gortat’s season averages of 11 points and eight rebounds are not necessarily indicative of his full potential. The Wizards centre has often proved a thorn in the Raptors side in the past. Toronto is still without the injured Jonas Valanciunas and will have to do their best to contain the pick-and-roll threat Gortat and Wall present.
Kyle Lowry – The Raptors point guard is making this an easy selection recently. Lowry had another strong game on Wednesday in front of Drake and a sold-out Air Canada Centre resulting in a Raptors win over the Cavaliers. Lowry caught fire in the second half and finished as the game’s leading scorer with 27 points while adding six assists and four more steals to his league-leading average.
A NEW RIVALRY
Tonight’s game marks the first regular-season meeting with the Wizards since the 2015 Playoffs. Although the same core players should be fit to play tonight, both teams have made changes in the offseason and the new faces will not have felt the impact of Washington’s sweep of Toronto in April.
Last seaon’s Playoffs result may have seemed odd given Toronto has won seven of the last eight regular-season meetings with Washington, including a 120-116 overtime victory Jan. 31, 2015 at Verizon Center. Tonight will be the first of four meetings between the two teams, which will all be played by the end of January.
Washington enjoys playing an up-tempo game and have quick guards in John Wall and Bradley Beal who suit that style of play. They also have Marcin Gortat and Nene, more traditional big men who play closer to the paint. As mentioned above, Gortat has given this team problems in the past but so far this year the Raptors appear to have shored up on the defensive end. Toronto’s defence is holding opponents to 38.9 points in the paint, which ranks fourth in the NBA.
New Raptor Bismack Biyombo can be credited with a big role in the team’s improved defence. He has been thrust into a starting role in the absence of Jonas Valanciunas and has performed admirably, averaging nine points and 13 rebounds in his time as a starter.
SEIZING AN OPPORTUNITY
Toronto selected Delon Wright with the 21st overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft. The team coveted the point guard’s athleticism and most importantly, his decision-making skills on the defensive end of the floor.
Wright has found playing time difficult to come by so far this season. Behind the strong play of Kyle Lowry and Cory Joseph, the Raptors have not had many opportunities to incorporate a third point guard into the rotation.
These types of situations are exactly why the franchise pursued and ultimately were successful in obtaining their own NBA Development League team in the Raptors 905.
Led by former Raps assistant coach, Jesse Mermuys, Raptors 905 has provided players such as Lucas Nogueira and Bruno Caboclo the opportunity to hone their skills while most importantly getting the game time they desperately need.
Wright suited up for the D-League affiliate for the first time on Wednesday night and immediately impressed. He scored a team-high 24 points on a perfect 9-9 shooting in a Raptors 905 victory over Idaho.
