Game Rap: Raptors 106, Wizards 89

Holly MacKenzie - Raptors.com

DeMar DeRozan made a layup to put the Raptors up 15 with 2:36 remaining. With Toronto’s ninth straight victory locked up, the starters were pulled and Lucas Nogueira capped off an entertaining night for Raptors fans by hitting the first three-pointer of his career. After leading by 14 in the first half, the Raptors allowing Washington to hang around until the reserves-plus-Kyle Lowry lineup began the fourth quarter and quickly pulled away, rolling to a 106-89 victory. The win moves Toronto to 30-15 on the season.

Kyle Lowry left the game with 3:42 remaining after appearing to injure his wrist when he got caught on a screen. After heading to the locker room, Lowry had x-rays taken. The team announced that they were negative after the game and Lowry told the media he thought it was something worse than what it was when it happened, and that, “I’m fine.”

Terrence Ross had 15 points against the Wizards, marking the sixth time in the previous seven games he’s reached double figures. For the month of January, he’s averaging 9.8 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 43 percent from beyond the arc.

The victory was the ninth straight for Toronto, tying their longest winning streak in team history (Mar. 22 - Apr. 3, 2002). It also marked the 20th consecutive game the team has won when holding the opponent to less than 100 points, which is the second longest steak in team history. On the season, the team is 25-3 when holding opponents under the century mark.

Kyle Lowry was fantastic against the Wizards, scoring a game-high 29 points in 37 minutes. He shot 8-for-14 from the floor, making five of nine attempts from beyond the arc and all eight of his free throws. Lowry added four rebounds, four assists and two steals and propelled the team in the fourth when he starred alongside the bench lineup.

Cory Joseph added another solid performance off the bench, scoring 10 points in 25 minutes. Joseph shot 5-of-7 from the floor while adding two rebounds and six assists. The team was a +15 with Joseph on the floor.

“I think we will all look back on it after the season is over. Look at the individual accomplishments, the team accomplishments. Enjoy it when we’re not in the midst of it. Right now we’re too focused on our next opponent, which is the New York Knicks. It’s time to get focused for them. We’re just taking it game by game, day by day, hour by hour. We’re coming in tomorrow to watch the film from tonight and start preparing for the Knicks on Thursday. Let everybody else enjoy it. We’ll’ enjoy it later.”- Kyle Lowry bringing perspective to the team’s mindset with respect to the nine-game winning streak

48… Rebounds for the Raptors compared to 35 for the Wizards. Toronto also held an 11-7 edge on the offensive glass.11… Made three-pointers for Toronto. Kyle Lowry led the way with five three-pointers, one more than Washington’s team total (4).18… Toronto won despite being way too carless with the ball, racking up 18 turnovers. Washington scored 28 points off Toronto’s miscues.5… Players in double figures for the Raptors: Lowry (29), DeRozan (17), Valanciunas (13), Ross (15) and Joseph (10).

“The whole bench, +19 from Bismack [Biyombo], +22 from Patrick [Patterson], +14 from Terrence [Ross] and +15 from Cory [Joseph]. That’s huge for us to continue through this. If we had to ride the starters and depend on the tonight we would have been in trouble. The bench came in and saved us. Terrence's shooting and scoring, creating off the dribble is something that is really, really good to see.”- Dwane Casey on the bench continuing to come up big“We take every game on game at a time. Every game is the biggest game, so you have to take advantage of everything. You have to e on our P’S and Q’s, you have to ball out and that’s what we’re trying to do.”- Terrence Ross on the team's focus“It says a lot. It just lets you know that it’s scary if we get it rolling on both ends, and we play a complete game, anything is possible. We feel that we can beat anybody and compete with anybody on any single night. We have to continue to get better that that.”- DeMar DeRozan on the team finding a way to win easily when they haven’t played particularly well.“I think I can be more efficient. I think I can shoot the ball better and I think I can make better plays for my teammates. I made some bad defensive plays tonight that I think I can cut out. I always hold myself to a higher standard and I think I try to play a mistake-free game. I know basketball isn’t a mistake-free game but I just try to play at the highest level that I can.”- Kyle Lowry on what he feels he can improve in his game

The Raptors take on the New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday at 8 P.M. ET. The game will be televised on TNT in the U.S. and SN1 in Canada. Prior to the game, the league will announce All-Star reserves.