John Wall and Nick Young script a Washington Wizards win over Toronto Raptors in O.T : NBA
John Wall showed shades of his promised brilliance in a 31 point effort; while Nick Young pounded a career high 29 points as the Washington Wizards survived a second half scare to overcome the spirited Toronto Raptors 111-108 in overtime.
Leading by as many as 18 points early in the third quarter, the Wizards playing at home, let their guard down in the ensuing passage of play and the Raps did not need a second invitation.
They started with a 8-2 run early in the third and after the Wizards maintained a double-digit lead 96-85 till midway through the fourth quarter, they reeled off a 17-4 burst, capped by a Linas Kleiza go-ahead three to take a 101-100 lead.
With just 50 odd seconds remaining in the game, John wall made two’s on either sides of Jared Bayless free throws and Jordan Crawford made one of two free throw to put the hosts ahead by 105-103. James Johnson however slammed home the last Toronto possession to tie the matter and the game headed to overtime.
Johnson scored 10 points for the Raps, who got 30 apiece from Bayless and Kleiza. The duo combined for 10 of the total 13 Toronto three pointers. DeMar DeRozan also racked up 15 points for the visitors.
The overtime proved to be a cold affair with the first 4:33 producing only 7 points, seven of which came in the form of free throws as the Wizards led by 109-108. The Raps missed all their field goal attempts in the period and their slump meant that the Wizards hung on to a 3 point win.
Raptors coach Dwane Casey felt that his team wouldn’t have been in the situation, had they put up a better effort in the first half;
"You have to go off on them at halftime to get them to play. It shouldn't ever have to get to that -- and that's why I was disappointed -- even with that second-half comeback."¬
"That was a bad exhibition of basketball," Casey observed. "We had an unprofessional start."
Wizards coach Randy Wittman was a relieved man though;
"A win is a win - and we will take it”.
The win is the second that the Wizards have managed over the Raps this season, the first one coming after they had suffered eight losses to start the season. The Wizards are now 5-20 and will take on New York Knicks on Wednesday.
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