TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors got the job done.
It was nothing to be particularly proud about. The Washington Wizards arrived at Scotiabank Arena short three starters and having gone 3-9 since they ran over the Raptors in the first of a two-game series in Washington earlier this month.
To their credit, Toronto looked serious about the task at hand in the first half, but it didn’t last. They allowed Washington back in the game by surrendering a 38-point third quarter to the visitors. The Raptors weren’t entirely better in the fourth as they made little mistakes like, I don’t know, not bothering to cover Wizards sharpshooter Corey Kispert (5-of-11 from deep) in the strongside corner, letting him hit an inexplicably wide-open three as both O.G Anunoby and Scottie Barnes failed to account for him. And while Kristaps Porzingis is a more-than-capable three-point shooter, the lanky Wizards giant is no threat to put it on the floor and finish at the rim, so why the Raptors were flying past him on every pump fake was hard to fathom.
Let’s just say the details weren’t all nailed down, so fitting for a Raptors season that has seen more than its fair share of loose threads and frayed edges.
But it’s not how but how many when it’s all added up in the end and Toronto’s 114-104 win is ultimately more important than non-existent style points.
