Scottie Barnes led the charge with 24 points as the Toronto Raptors cruised past the struggling Washington Wizards 106-82 on Wednesday night, securing their fifth consecutive victory while handing Washington its 15th straight loss.
Jakob Poeltl contributed across the board with 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists as Toronto extended its strong stretch, winning for the seventh time in eight games. The victory also marked the Raptors’ first five-game winning streak since April 1, 2022.
Toronto’s defense was suffocating, holding Washington to a season-low point total while forcing a season-high 27 turnovers.
Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 19 points and 10 rebounds, but Washington endured its worst offensive performance of the season in scoring and ball security.
Takeaways
Raptors: Toronto started the night 5.5 games behind Chicago for the final Eastern Conference play-in spot. The Raptors now return home for a crucial four-game homestand.
Wizards: Washington surpassed its previous season-worst mark of 21 turnovers before the third quarter even ended, struggling to maintain any offensive rhythm.
Key Moment
Toronto set the tone early with a dominant 14-0 start, capitalizing on three Wizards turnovers and missed shots. Washington failed to score until Jonas Valanciunas finally broke the drought with a putback at the 6:53 mark of the first quarter.
Key Stat
Toronto capitalized on Washington’s miscues, scoring 22 first-half points off 15 turnovers to build a commanding 19-point halftime lead.
Up Next
The Raptors will return home to face the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, while the Wizards will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
