After blowing a 17-point lead at home and allowing 41 points in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz, the Toronto Raptors take on another bad team in the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards will be at home and they have enough offfense to put up points against the Raptors defense, which has been bad as of late.
Remember the Raptors needed a huge comeback to erase a 23-point deficit to beat the Wizards in their first matchup at Scotiabank Arena.
That was a game where Pascal Siakam took over in the paint and the Wizards seemingly gave up.
If the Raptors still have hopes of turning their season around then this is a must win game for them.
The Raptors are in borderline panic mode after their loss to the Jazz, but if they lose this game against the 5-24 Wizards then they will fully be in panic mode.
Christian Koloko is the only player on the Raptors’ injury report, as he remains out with a respiratory condition that has kept him out all season to this point.
Meanwhile for the Wizards, Kyle Kuzma is questionable with a right quad contusion. He lit the Raptors up for 34 points on 14-25 shooting the last time these teams met.
If Kuzma is unable to suit up for this one, the Raptors will catch a major break.
The Raptors will lean on Pascal Siakam who scored 39 points in the comeback win over the Wizards on No. 13 and Scottie Barnes who is coming off tying his career-high with 32 points in the loss against the Jazz.
Toronto Raptors (11-18) vs. Washington Wizards (5-24)
7:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
TV: Sportsnet
Projected Raptors Starting Lineup:
PG: Dennis Schroder
SG: O.G. Anunoby
SF: Scottie Barnes
PF: Pascal Siakam
C: Jakob Poeltl
Key Reserves: Gary Trent Jr., Precious Achiuwa, Malachi Flynn
Projected Wizards Starting Lineup:
PG: Tyus Jones
SG: Jordan Poole
SF: Deni Avdija
PF: Kyle Kuzma
C: Daniel Gafford
Key Reserves: Corey Kispert, Bilal Coulibaly, Danillo Gallinari
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