The Raptors responded against the Washington Wizards.
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, improving to 35-25 after entering the game on a two-game losing streak (losses to San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder). Toronto holds the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference standings with a .583 winning percentage, 10.0 games behind the conference-leading Detroit Pistons, while Washington is well-below .500 with the playoffs out of reach and the No. 1 pick top of mind.
Following the win, Gilbert Ngabo of the Toronto Star reported that head coach Darko Rajakovic had issued a warning about this matchup the day before.
“On Friday, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic warned his team Friday that Washington is playing without pressure, with the playoffs out of reach and nothing to lose,” Ngabo wrote.
Rajakovic said, “You can beat any team and you can lose to any team on any given night.”
Toronto responded with balanced scoring against Washington. Immanuel Quickley led the team with 27 points and 11 assists in 37 minutes, shooting 10-for-15 from the field and 2-for-7 from three-point range. Brandon Ingram added 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting in 34 minutes, while RJ Barrett contributed 21 points in 33 minutes.
Scottie Barnes finished with 18 points, four rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes. Jakob Poeltl was efficient, scoring 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting and adding 10 rebounds and three steals in 26 minutes. Poeltl’s +18 plus-minus was the highest among Toronto starters.
Rajakovic’s pregame warning noted Washington’s approach late in the season, despite the tanking narrative. Teams outside the playoff picture often extend rotations, giving opportunities to hungry young players. The Wizards’ lack of postseason pressure had the Raptors on notice, rather than making them complacent.
Toronto shot 39-for-82 from the field as a team and assisted on 31 makes, which was a more efficient offensive showing compared to their previous two outings that resulted in losses. The Raptors’ starters accounted for 108 of the team’s points, with Quickley and Ingram combining for 51.
With 22 games remaining in the regular season, Toronto remains positioned in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Raptors’ 27-15 conference record remains one of the stronger marks in the East, which could bode well come playoff time.
Toronto's next matchup comes against another conference opponent in the New York Knicks as they look to make it consecutive wins before three straight games against Western Conference opponents.