Rematches are some of the most interesting elements of the NBA’s regular season. Both teams have data on one another, and not just broad, general data, but the specific stuff you can only generate when you play a team yourself. Both teams know the schematics they tried, what worked and what didn’t, and they have a chance to recalibrate.
For the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards, that chance comes early. Both teams opened the season against the other, and the Wizards won. That seemed at the time an ill omen for the Raptors’ chances, but the Wizards have since risen to third place in the East, at 5-2. Now it seems like Toronto lost to a mighty team. Well, tonight they’ll have a chance to solve their mistakes.
In the first go around, Toronto did a wonderful job bottling up Bradley Beal. He broke through for some free throws, but the Raptors held him to 7 of 19 from the field. While Washington in general had trouble scoring, it was boosted immensely by Montrezl Harrell. He feasted around the rim, scoring 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Precious Achiuwa wasn’t able to match his intensity, and put up little resistance, while Khem Birch looked a step slow all night. That was likely because Birch had only recently left the health and safety program. He’s now coming off of one of the best games of his season, and Toronto will likely keep him off the bench, not because he’s not Toronto’s best center option (he is) but because that’s an easier place to match his minutes with Harrell’s. Birch is physically equipped to slow Harrell, but he’ll need to dial up his physicality.
On the other end, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby shot incredibly poorly from the field against Washington. They both rushed into shots and struggled both to create good shots and to finish what they did attempt. While the Raptors’ defense was solid against Washington, their offense lost the game. VanVleet and Anunoby have since settled into their roles and are playing fantastically, with VanVleet becoming a fourth-quarter closer seemingly every game and Anunoby putting up a career-high 36 points in Toronto’s last contest. Expect both to try to redeem their previous outing against Washington.
Game Info
Tip-off: 7:00pm EDT | TV: TSN | Radio: TSN 1050
The Lineup
Toronto’s Lineup
Scottie Barnes (thumb sprain) is out. Nick Nurse insists the injury isn’t serious, so he expect him to return soon. Yuta Watanabe (calf) is out. Pascal Siakam (shoulder) is out.
PG: Fred VanVleet, Dalano Banton, Goran Dragic, Malachi Flynn
SG: Gary Trent Jr, David Johnson
SF: Svi Mykhailiuk, Sam Dekker, Justin Champagnie
PF: OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, Isaac Bonga
C: Precious Achiuwa, Khem Birch
Washington’s Lineup
Thomas Bryant (knee), Rui Hachimura (personal), Davis Bertans (ankle), and Cassius Winston (hamstring) are out.
PG: Spencer Dinwiddie, Aaron Holiday, Raul Neto
SG: Bradley Beal, Corey Kispert, Joel Ayayi
SF: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Deni Avdija, Anthony Gill
PF: Kyle Kuzma, Isaiah Todd
C: Daniel Gafford, Montrezl Harrell
