Raptors Rapid Recap - Toronto 109 - Washington 104

by Adam Francis on Feb 20, 2010 10:11 PM EST in Game Day

-This one was a bit too close for comfort but thanks to some clutch play in the game's final four minutes, the Toronto Raptors escaped with a 109 to 104 win over the Washington Wizards tonight.

-Again, the club was without Chris Bosh so needed some balanced scoring to get a W and like last night's victory over the Nets, the Dinos did just that. They had six players score in double figures and were led by Jarrett Jack with 23. Hedo Turkoglu had his second straight solid game, Andrea Bargnani chipped in 18, and Antoine Wright was stellar with 19 off the pine.

-For Washington, it was the Andray Blatche show. Blatche had 24 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks and single-handily got the Wizards back in this one early in the 3rd quarter. He also got some balanced assistance as Javale McGee, AL Thornton, Josh Howard and Randy Foye all scored 10 or more points.

-Despite winning both games sans-Bosh, here's hoping CB4 returns for the Raps' next match. Without him tonight Toronto looked lost on offence at times, and had Jarrett Jack not taken over late in the fourth, this would likely have been an ugly loss. The Raptors had no answer for Andray Blatche, played some horrific defense most of the game, and after solid first halves, the scoring from players like Andrea and Jose dried up. Washington got numerous second-chance opportunities as well and eventually ran up a 10 point lead with minutes to go.

-However the Raps showed just why they've been one of the league's best since January, locking in defensively while executing efficiently on offense. Turk and Jack did their damage on O while on D, Bargnani had three huge blocks to keep the Wizards at bay. By the time the clock wound down, Toronto was left standing with the W.

-While the Wiz aren't exactly the Blazers or Cavs, Toronto's next two opponents, this was still a good win. Toronto lost a 10 point lead, got down by the same margin late, and yet charged back to get their 31st win putting them only two wins shy of their total all last season.

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Is it just me, or did the looking lost on offence bit coincided w/ reggie evans on the floor? It felt like we were playing 4 on 5, washington just laid off him on d.

by 7-9nomore on Feb 20, 2010 10:17 PM EST reply actions

don’t agree, his D was a positive contribution

by Scores on Feb 21, 2010 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

that was with hedo

by Gerry71 on Feb 20, 2010 10:39 PM EST reply actions

Hedo had 9 pts in the 3rd quarter before running into blatche and hurting his knee/missing some time?

by 7-9nomore on Feb 20, 2010 10:44 PM EST up reply actions

this was win they would NOT have gotten in 2009!

by Gerry71 on Feb 20, 2010 10:39 PM EST reply actions

Five minutes of lockdown Defense led by Bargnani

At 5:40 with the score at Rap’s 91 Wiz 100, Rap’s went on an improbable 18-4 run to finish out 109-104, led by Wright and Bargnani’s defense and Jack and Turkoglu on offense. A Raptor’s career night for Wright on O and D.

Washington, who beat Denver last night, looks like they are a point guard, a center, and some experience playing together, away from becoming a team who can compete.

by Johnn19 on Feb 20, 2010 11:26 PM EST reply actions

A PG you say? They’ve got one of the highest paid ones in the league coming back next year, right? That oughta solve things, right? hehe

by Jdbar9393 on Feb 20, 2010 11:37 PM EST up reply actions

this up coming week has some fine opponents…

goody goody

by Jenge on Feb 21, 2010 2:39 AM EST reply actions

two things:

1. even the most hardened critics of the Jose-Jack pairing have to admit that it got the offense going in the 4th—the Wiz even had to respond by pairing up Foye and Boykins, which didn’t work for them at all.

2. I think Reggie played great . . . I was at the game and kept an eye on him at all times on D, and he’s just everywhere. He and Wright really work 100% on D. However, with Reggie and Amir on at the same time, the offense went to hell—I love both guys, but neither has a back to the basket OR jump-shot game, so you simply can’t have them both on together. Of course, with Bosh back, this will be moot . . . Reggie is clearly the key to our playoff success. Put him on Garnett . . . at least we’ll have some intensity.

BONUS: yesterday I was freaking out about the future of the team . . . today, still worried . . . Bargs played okay, but 2 pts. in the 2nd half?? (with Bosh out??) Great help D at the end, though. I wonder if Bosh is more likely to stay because of team chemistry—they seem to really like each other—after the MASSIVE offensive rebound by Hedo, DeRozan sprinted over to him and hugged him like a little brother. Nice to see.

by Original Aaron on Feb 21, 2010 7:36 AM EST reply actions