Gameday: Wizards vs Raptors, May 6

With six games left in the regular season, this Wizards matchup might be the nail in the coffin, or what cracks the door open a bit.

It appears that Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet are going to play in the same game, something that didn’t happen during the entire four game road trip. One of them will take on the task of guarding Russell Westbrook, who has 19 triple-doubles in his last 23 games. He only needs three more in the last six to break Oscar Robertson’s record for most all-time. It would be a shocker if that didn’t happen. Bradley Beal ranks second in scoring with nearly 31 points a game, which basically means Nick Nurse is going to throw the kitchen sink at Beal and he might only take 10 shots.

The Raptors sit three games behind Washington for the final play-in spot, and have already won the tiebreaker if it comes to that (thanks to Gary Trent Jr, who is listed as probable). Indiana is only a half game up on Washington. Speaking of which, what the hell is going on with the Pacers these days?

This is what led up to the Greg Foster blow up with Bitadze. He let Harkless get to the rim for a 2nd chance dunk and got scolded for not contesting. Bitadze responds w/ a 3 and when he runs back you can read his lips pretty clearly. “Sit the f$&@ down.” That did it #PacersKings pic.twitter.com/oFEmdUpPUl
— J. Michael (@ThisIsJMichael) May 6, 2021

this feels like a “2 AM Woj Bomb coming” loss for the Pacers. yikes. pic.twitter.com/nT19EeONQb
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 6, 2021

After Wednesday games, the Raptors chances to make the playoffs were bumped up from five to seven percent according to FiveThirtyEight. Here’s the remaining schedules for the two teams the Raps are chasing. Yes I left out the Bulls, who have lost four straight and have less than a percent of a chance.

9. Pacers (30-35) – ATL, WSH, @CLE, PHI, MIL, LAL, @TOR

10. Wizards (30-36) – @TOR, @IND, @ATL, @ATL, CLE, CHA

11. Raptors (27-39) – WSH, MEM, LAC, @CHI, @DAL, IND

Considering that Washington is 13-4 in its last 17 games, I can’t see them collapsing down the stretch. If the Raptors have any interest in a play-in scenario, Indiana has to be the team to catch. They’re imploding, and have the toughest schedule remaining of the three. If the Pacers go 1-5 over their next six (their only favourable game is vs Cleveland) and the Raptors win three of five, guess what the final game of the regular season would come down to?

A 31-40 Pacers team (?!) vs a 30-41 Raptors squad, who have split this season series and all the marbles would be up for grabs in a play-in before the play-in. Sorry Nate Bjorkgren, Oshae Brissett, and in light of recent events… also former Raptor Greg Foster.

This is not a crazy scenario. It’s too hilarious to not happen. Even if you have been Fading and Cading four months ago, you have to root for Game 72 to provide that level of comedy and entertainment….right?

By the way, if your argument is those records are way too pathetic to deserve a play-in, see the Paul Pierce led Boston Celtics in 2004 that were 10 games under .500 (36-46) and still ended up being an 8-seed in a 29 team NBA. The actual playoffs.

Drama!

Game Info

Tip-off: 7:30pm EDT | TV: Sportsnet | Radio: TSN Radio 1050

Raptors Lineup

OG Anunoby (calf), Chris Boucher and Paul Watson Jr. (knee injuries) are out. Yuta Watanabe (tweaked ankle) is probable. So is Trent, as mentioned above. He’s missed the last six games.

PG: Kyle Lowry, Malachi Flynn

SG: Fred VanVleet, DeAndre Bembry, Jalen Harris

SF: Gary Trent Jr, Yuta Watanabe, Rodney Hood

PF: Pascal Siakam, Stanley Johnson

C: Khem Birch, Freddie Gillespie, Aron Baynes

Wizards Lineup

Rui Hachimura (illness) is expected to miss this game. Deni Avdija (ankle) and Thomas Bryant (knee) are out for the season. Chandler Hutchison left Wednesday’s game vs the Bucks with a left knee contusion.

PG: Russell Westbrook, Ish Smith, Cassius Winston

SG: Raul Neto, Garrison Mathews

SF: Bradley Beal, Isaac Bonga

PF: Anthony Gill, Davis Bertans

C: Alex Len, Daniel Gafford, Robin Lopez