The Raptors had to get back on the Wizards field and they did not fail in their mission. An ultra-efficient Scottie Barnes, leaders who do not tremble during money time, this is a victory that will do good in Ontario.
For the house boxscore of this knife match, this is where it happens.
If you love roller coasters and emotional elevators, this Toronto team is definitely for you. With six wins in a row to attack January, the dino franchise seemed to have found its stride to move up East. No luck, the big minutes imposed by Nick Nurse on his executives ended up weighing on the legs of the Ontario players and the consequence was not long in coming: 4 defeats in 5 games. So here are the Raptors again in doubt and we should not miss this night on the field of the Wizards, a direct opponent for the Top 8 in the East and a possible future rival with a view to the Play-in Tournament. Easier said than done, especially since the team opposite has regained some teeth after a particularly complicated month of December.
The start of the game was going to prove it and it was Washington who took Toronto by the throat at the start. Daniel Gafford does his job in the racket, Deni Avdija takes out the caviars, Bradley Beal warms up quietly and DC takes control. Already very active in this first act, Scottie Barnes (27 points, 8 rebounds, 12/19 shooting) will sound the revolt for his people and it’s all Toronto that will step-up in his wake. Washington is not resisting this storm from the North and we are even heading for a victory with our feet in our slippers for Nick Nurse. It would be to forget the unpredictable side of the Raptors and the Canadians will be very scared once again. Despite 18 points ahead, the darlings of Drake will let the players of the capital come back on their heels thanks to a boiling Bealou and the muscles of Montrezl Harrell. The knees are starting to shake at the Dinos but Fred Van Vleet offers a nice breath of fresh air to a whole fanbase on a new ultra-clutch shoot (see below) before OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam finish the job. We were scared on the Toronto side but the victory is there and it will be good. Not content with finding the Top 8, the Raptors also secure the tie-breaker against the Wizards (3-1 in direct confrontations). An advantage that could count big when doing the accounts.
VanVleet’s HUGE shot to calm down the Wizards room… pic.twitter.com/Nuv2u5bYnV
– TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 22, 2022
The Raptors and Scottie Barnes have found the taste of victory in Washington but not everything will have been easy. Toronto came very close to the big choke but the executives did not flinch and it is a success with the guts that is likely to count at the end of the season.
