A first career start for Canadian A.J. Lawson at home Friday was a story, but him being the best player on the floor two games later was a bigger one.
Lawson, who grew up in Brampton and played high school basketball in Mississauga, broke out for 32 points, including seven three-pointers, this time off the bench, in Monday’s 119-104 Raptors win over the Washington Wizards. The Raptors set a franchise record for rebounds, with four players grabbing at least 10 in a game for the first time since the team’s inception. Four players had double-doubles, including Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett.
Lawson had never scored more than 17 in the NBA or hit more than four three-pointers, and his exploits were needed, as the other Raptors struggled mightily offensively, hitting only nine more three-pointers combined.
Only 10 Raptors have ever hit more three-pointers in a game than Lawson and he threw down an emphatic dunk late for good measure, shortly before collecting his 12th rebound of the game. Toronto shot under 40%, yet won the game, with 28 offensive rebounds helping quite a bit.
The Raptors started two players who have split time in the G League and NBA this season in Jared Rhoden and Orlando Robinson, alongside regulars Barnes, Barrett and Quickley.
Shooting guards Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji and Ja’Kobe Walter all remained out due to injuries, while centre Jakob Poeltl was rested.
Washington rested veterans Khris Middleton, Richaun Holmes and Marcus Smart and injured guard Malcolm Brogdon.
The teams had met here two nights earlier in a memorable tilt that ended with a layup by Jamal Shead at the buzzer being negated on instant replay, allowing the Wizards to escape with a win.
In this one Washington led 60-59 at halftime. Toronto hit only 24.2% from the field (4-for-17 from two-point range, 4-for-16 on three-pointers) in an ugly display.
The third quarter was a far different story, with the Raptors shooting 47% from the field and holding Washington to 28%, a big reason the score was 93-79 Raptors with Lawson up to 25. They kept pouring it on from there and improved to 22-43. Washington is a league-worst 13-50.
Raptors forward Jamison Battle collided early with Washington’s Bilal Coulibaly after a Coulibaly dunk and both players were shaken up, with Coulibaly falling hard to the court. Battle briefly returned, before leaving, while Coulibaly, Washington’s top young player, did not.
Toronto hosts Nick Nurse’s injury decimated Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday before heading west for four games, the last long road trip of the season.
@WolstatSun