TORONTO — Toronto’s A.J. Lawson showcased an impressive performance, making seven 3-pointers and scoring a career-high 32 points, contributing significantly to the Raptors’ 119-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night. In a record-setting game, the Raptors accumulated a remarkable 73 rebounds, the highest in the NBA this season, with Lawson personally securing 12.
The Raptors (22-43) achieved a milestone by having four players record at least 10 rebounds each for the first time in the team’s history. Each player also posted double-doubles. Scottie Barnes contributed 14 points alongside 13 rebounds, while RJ Barrett tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Orlando Robinson further added to the stats with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
On the Wizards’ side (13-50), despite their recent victories, they struggled in this game. Alex Sarr managed to achieve 16 points and 11 rebounds, with Jordan Poole matching his points tally at 16, and Tristan Vukcevic slightly behind with 15.
Washington faced challenges as they were already missing key players Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart. They suffered an additional loss when Bilal Coulibaly had to exit in the first quarter due to a right hamstring injury after a hard fall.
For the Raptors, this win was a sweet recovery after a previous narrow defeat where Jamal Shead’s buzzer-beater was disallowed, snatching victory from their grasp.
The turning point came early in the second half when Barnes energized the team with a dunk and a layup, sparking a 10-0 run that helped Toronto secure a lead.
A critical component of Toronto’s success was their 28 offensive rebounds, resulting in 33 second-chance points. This dominance on the glass was a decisive factor in their triumph.
Looking ahead, the Wizards are set to face Detroit on Tuesday night, while Toronto will continue to leverage their home advantage against Philadelphia on Wednesday.
