The hottest team in the Eastern Conference resides north of the border. The Toronto Raptors can close the gap on the Cavaliers for the top spot in the conference with a franchise record-tying ninth straight win if they’re able to knock off the Wizards, who are playing the second of a back-to-back set and look to avoid being swept in the season series.
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LOOK AHEAD
At the halfway point of their schedule, the Wizards are 20-21, good for ninth place in the Eastern Conference. There have been nights when they look like a top-flight contender – their resume includes a home win over San Antonio and road victories over Cleveland and Chicago – and just as many nights when they assume the identity of a team bound for the lottery. But for all their injuries and struggles, the Wizards are still within striking distance of the Celtics and Heat, despite playing the NBA’s toughest schedule based on opponent’s winning percentages.
The Wizards are confident a second-half surge is forthcoming, and the assurance starts with better health. The Wizards have had players miss a combined 186 games because of injuries, by far the most in the league. The roster is starting to become complete. Bradley Beal and Nene each recently returned from long absences and Drew Gooden was supposed to be active for Saturday’s postponed game. That additional off day gave the Wizards extra time to prepare for this back-to-back set that opened Monday against Boston. They haven’t been good on the back end going 3-6 SU and 4-5 ATS in the second of nine back-to-backs this season.
INJURIES
Gooden’s calf injury has kept him out of 26 of the past 32 games, but he’s expected to return to the lineup this week. Otto Porter Jr. hasn’t played since sustaining a hip injury on Jan. 13, but he is back at practice and a return is close. Beal and Nene have returned to the Wizards’ rotation but remain on a minutes restriction.
KEY MATCHUP
When the NBA All-Star starters were announced, John Wall was left out of the group. Despite leading the Eastern Conference in assists and double-doubles, the Wizards star point guard feels underappreciated even more. In December, Wall earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month by averaging 22 points, 11 assists, four rebounds, and over two steals. Though he’s putting up MVP-type numbers, he’s still often overlooked. Part of that this season could be the Wizards poor start that saw them with a 4-7 record in November. But since December, Wall has been playing at an elite level. Just 10 days ago, Wall had 36 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds and seven steals against Boston, becoming the first in league history to post that statline. Wall is the best point guard in the conference and he’ll be motivated by the All-Star snub.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Raptors are playing phenomenal basketball during their winning streak and they are getting contributions from everyone. The bench scored 51 points in Sunday’s win over the Clippers, their eighth straight and an impressive thumping of a quality opponent. Toronto has settled into a consistent rotation after dealing with a series of injuries that muddled things, and a successful routing is developing. The backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan is one of, if not the best in the East, but the reserves have been doing some heavy lifting. If the Raptors keep getting even close to the production from the bench they got Sunday, optimism will abound.
Toronto 97, Washington 92
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