Wizards Catch Fire Late to Overpower Slumping Raptors in Washington
So here’s how this one played out in Washington, and honestly, it was a night where almost everything seemed to click for the Wizards at the right time. Despite sitting at the bottom of the NBA standings, Washington delivered its most explosive offensive performance of the season, rolling past a struggling Toronto Raptors side 138–117.
The tone was set early by Keyshawn George, who looked calm, confident, and completely in control. He finished with 23 points on an efficient 9-of-13 shooting, and his scoring touch was felt all over the floor. What stood out was how smoothly the offense flowed when he had the ball. Shots were being taken in rhythm, and the Raptors’ usually solid defense just couldn’t slow things down. Coming into the game, Toronto owned one of the league’s top defensive ratings, but that reputation didn’t hold up on this night.
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Support came from everywhere for Washington. CJ McCollum and Bilal Coulibaly chipped in with 21 points apiece, helping the Wizards reach a season-high in scoring. As a team, nearly 60 percent of their shots were made, and that kind of efficiency is almost impossible to defend. The effort on the glass was also noticeable, as Washington outrebounded Toronto 46–33, creating extra chances that kept the pressure on.
Toronto did show some fight. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 29 points, while Immanuel Quickley added 25. Even without key starters RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, the Raptors clawed their way back into the game. An 11-point halftime deficit was trimmed down to just two by the end of the third quarter, and for a moment, it felt like momentum had shifted.
But that’s where everything unraveled for Toronto. The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Washington. A pair of three-pointers from Justin Champagnie and Bub Carrington reignited the Wizards’ offense, pushing the lead back to double digits. Soon after, McCollum and Carrington knocked down more shots from deep, sandwiched around a smooth running layup by George. Just like that, the game slipped out of reach. When Coulibaly threw down a transition dunk with under four minutes to play, the lead hit 20 for the first time, and the outcome was sealed.
For Washington, the win snapped a four-game home losing streak, even if the bigger picture still shows a tough season ahead. For Toronto, the loss marked another setback in a stretch where nine of the last 13 games have gone the wrong way. Up next, the Raptors head home to face Golden State, while the Wizards stay in Washington to take on Memphis, hoping this offensive spark carries over.
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