Upcoming Match-ups

Raptors Must Slow Wall and the Wizards in Pivotal Game 5

Ryan Murphy

by Ryan Murphy in NBA Basketball

Updated Jan 5, 2023 · 3:36 AM PST

John Wall with the Washington Wizards
The Raptors couldn't contain John Wall during Games 3 and 4. Photo by Keith Allison (Flickr) [CC License].
  • The Raptors will try to stop the bleeding when they host the Wizards for Game 5 of their first round series
  • Will John Wall continue to be a one-man wrecking crew?
  • Will home court advantage prevail again?

Drake can forget about bringing his broom to the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday, April 25th when the Raptors host the Wizards. The Canadian rapper’s prediction of a series sweep fell apart after John Wall led Washington to a pair of decisive victories at home.

Wall has said that Drake’s taunts motivated him to elevate his game, and he was easily the best player on the court during Washington’s last two tilts. The five-time All-Star had 28 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds and four steals in the Wizards’ Game 3 victory and 27 points, 14 assists, six boards, and four swipes in their Game 4 win.

Toronto has been unable to slow Wall down in the open court and he’s consistently scored or gotten to the line by relentlessly attacking the rim.

Toronto has been unable to slow Wall down in the open court and he’s consistently scored or gotten to the line by relentlessly attacking the rim. On those occasions when Toronto has been able to corral and double team him, Wall has found open teammates awaiting his pinpoint passes beyond the arc.

The Raptors will have to find some way – any way – of keeping the ball out of his hands and limiting Washington’s fastbreak opportunities. If they make the mistake of trying to keep up with Wall they’ll be left in the dust again.

Ryan Murphy 2017-18 Straight Up Record: 394-155 (71.7-percent)

Washington Wizards vs Toronto Raptors Regular Season Team Stats

OFFENSE

Wizards
VS
Raptors
106.9 Offensive Rating 111.0
106.6 Points 111.7
25.2 Assists 24.3
46.7 Field-Goal Percentage 47.2
37.5 Three-Point Percentage 35.8
+0.6 Plus/Minus +7.8

DEFENSE

Wizards
VS
Raptors
106.2 Defensive Rating 103.4
106.0 Points 103.9
+0.6 Rebounding Differential +1.6
-0.4 Turnover Differential -1.0
46.2 Field-Goal Percentage 44.9
34.9 Three-Point Percentage 35.7
42.4 Points In The Paint 48.6

YouTube video

Head-to-Head Results

Date Location Score Winner
April 22 – Playoff WAS 106-98 WAS
April 20 – Playoff WAS 122-103 WAS
April 17 – Playoff TOR 113-103 TOR
April 14 – Playoff TOR 130-103 TOR
Mar. 2 – Regular Season WAS 102-95 TOR
Feb. 1 – Regular Season WAS 122-119 WAS
Nov. 19 – Regular Season TOR 100-91 TOR
Nov. 5 – Regular Season TOR 107-96 WAS

It’s fitting that the Wizards and Raptors split their regular season series because they’re deadlocked again after four games in the playoffs. Home court advantage has been the name of the game thus far, as both teams have won two games apiece on their own courts by an average margin of 13.5 points.

Notable Injuries and Absences

Raptors Wizards
Fred VanVleet (shoulder): QUESTIONABLE Jodie Meeks (suspension): OUT

YouTube video

Straight Up Advice: Raptors (114-109)

For the Raptors, there’s no place like home. Toronto tied Houston for the best home record in the NBA this season and plays significantly better within the friendly confines of the ACC. Dwane Casey’s club scored 1.1 more points at home in 2017-18 and allowed opponents to score 4.3 fewer points. That’s a significant disparity, and it was even wider in the first two games of this series, as the average margin of victory ballooned to 13.5.

The Raptors aren’t likely to win by double digits again on Wednesday, but they should come out on top much to the delight of Drake and their legions of rabid hometown fans.

Team Trends

Raptors Wizards
Toronto is 25-16 SU on the road Washington is 23-18 SU at home
Toronto is 7-3 SU in its last ten games Washington is 2-8 SU in its last ten games
Toronto is 7-7-0 SU as underdog Washington is 28-24-0 SU as favorite
Toronto is 31-28-1 ATS after a win Washington is 19-20-1 ATS after a loss
Toronto is 45-38-1 ATS this season (54.2%) Washington is 37-46-1 ATS this season (44.6%)
Toronto is 22-19-0 ATS on the road Washington is 16-24-1 ATS at home

Additional SU Picks (April 25th)

There are three other games on the docket on Wednesday night and we have straight up picks for all of them!

 Match-Up SU Pick
Pacers vs Cavaliers Cavaliers
Timberwolves vs Rockets Rockets
Jazz vs Thunder Thunder

Let us know who you’ve got in all four Wednesday night games in the comment section below.

Author Image