The Raptors have dug themselves a deep hole after losing 117-106 as 5.5-point favorites in Toronto in Game 2. Toronto is now down 2-0 in the series and must play two straight games in Washington. This team struggled from the line in Game 2, shooting 21-for-32 from the charity stripe and the Raptors also were outrebounded 57-43 in that contest. They will need to get it together or this could be an extremely quick series victory for the Wizards. Over the past three seasons, Washington has not fared well in this series at the Verizon Center. The Wizards are 1-4 both SU and ATS in those games and will need to change that or the Raptors could come away with a victory or two and head back to Toronto with tons of momentum in Game 5. One thing that swings in the Raptors’ favor is that the Wizards are a miserable 1-11 ATS in home games after coving in five of six of their past seven games over the past two seasons. The Wizards are, however, 17-5 ATS in April games over the past two seasons and are facing a Raptors team that is 4-15 ATS when playing six or less games in 14 days this season. Both of these teams enter this game relatively healthy.
The Raptors are down 2-0 and they have just not gotten the type of play that they expected out of PG Kyle Lowry (17.8 PPG, 6.8 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG) and SG DeMar DeRozan (20.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG). Lowry is averaging just 6.5 PPG and 4.0 APG on 5-for-20 shooting over the past two games and will need to be way better if the Raptors are going to claw their way back into this series. He has also been unable to avoid getting into foul trouble and must be more disciplined defensively. DeRozan has been better than Lowry, but that isn’t saying much. He’s averaging 17.5 PPG in this series, but the Raptors need him to take his game to a whole other level. He’s going to have to attack the basket in Game 3 and really look for his shot. One guy who stepped up in Game 2 was SG Lou Williams (15.5 PPG, 1.1 SPG), who finished with 20 points and three steals in 27 minutes of action. If Lowry struggles again then Williams will be counted on to score even more in Game 3. C Jonas Valanciunas (12.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.2 BPG) had 15 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2 and will need to be aggressive in this game. He had just six points in Game 1 and this team is counting on him to match the production of Marcin Gortat in the post.
The Wizards won both games in Toronto and now have control of this series as they host the Raptors for the next two games. PG John Wall (17.6 PPG, 10.0 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.7 SPG) was brilliant in Game 2, finishing with 26 points and 17 assists in 40 minutes of action. He is dominating Kyle Lowry so far and will need to continue to be aggressive with Lowry dealing with a few nagging injuries. SG Bradley Beal (15.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.2 SPG) also lit it up in Game 2, pouring in 28 points in 42 minutes of action. Beal was 12-for-21 from the field and the Raptors did not have an answer for him. He’s looked better in this series than he has all season and Washington could make a deep run in these playoffs if he is playing to his fullest potential. C Marcin Gortat (12.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG) had 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in Game 2. Gortat has done a great job of defending the rim when he’s on the floor and will need to continue to win his matchup with Valanciunas. SF Paul Pierce (11.9 PPG) is averaging 15.0 PPG in this series. He is 6-for-11 from the outside and his experience has really been on display throughout.
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