Legends66NBA7
02-11-2015, 08:03 PM
Game Preview: http://mi.nba.com/preview/#!/0021400791
Kyle Lowry*and*John Wall*are likely to dazzle when they share the floor as the Eastern Conference's starting backcourt in Sunday's NBA All-Star game.
They don't figure to be as friendly Wednesday night when the*Toronto Raptors*host the*Washington Wizards*in the third and final regular-season meeting of this budding rivalry.
Lowry got the better of Wall while leading Toronto (35-17) to a 120-116 overtime victory Jan. 31. Although Wall had 28 points and 12 assists and led Washington (33-20) back from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit, Lowry scored seven of his team-high 23 points in the extra period to help clinch the victory.
"(Washington) is a team that's up-and-coming, just like us," Lowry said Tuesday. "Their goals are the same as ours, so it always makes out for a great game."
Lowry's task was far easier in Toronto on Nov. 7. He recorded his sixth career triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in a 103-84 victory, while Wall shot 3 for 13 and scored just eight points -- two more than his season low and one of only four games this season in which he failed to reach double figures.
Both losses remain fresh on the Wizards point guard's mind.
"(Beating Toronto) would be great for us," Wall said Monday. "We could have beaten them here last time, first time they blew us out. This is the last time we play this team until we maybe play them in the playoffs, so you have to go out there and let this team know they don't have full advantage and they can dominate you any time they want."
Washington's*Bradley Beal*will miss his third straight contest. The Wizards initially believed Beal was dealing with a toe injury, but a medical exam revealed it to be a mild stress reaction in his lower right fibula. He'll be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.
Beal also missed the November loss in Toronto, but returned in the second matchup with 26 points and five 3-pointers.
The Wizards have managed without Beal and won the two games he's already missed following a season-worst five-game skid, flashing some defensive prowess by holding Brooklyn and Orlando to a combined 36.9 percent shooting.
"(We are) getting back to fundamentals defensively," Wall said. "Moving the ball as a team and playing defense, that's when we're at our best. We just got to do a better job of not turning it over, and we'll be back to where we were earlier in the season."
Washington ranks among the top defensive teams in the league with 97.4 points allowed per game and is 17-0 when holding the opposition to 91 or fewer.
Toronto sits among the NBA's best with 105.8 points per game. After averaging 84.0 over back-to-back losses, the Raptors bounced back Friday with a 123-107 win over the*Los Angeles Clippers*before grinding out an 87-82 victory against San Antonio on Sunday.
"We are trying to get where they are and where they've been," Lowry told the team's official website of the Spurs. "It's a great test for us. They know every night that they are getting every team's best shot because of who they are.
"For us, it's a stepping-stone."
The Raptors lead the Atlantic Division and are second in the East behind Atlanta. They have a 2 1/2-game advantage over the Wizards, who sit third in the conference.
Toronto has won six of the last seven meetings, with the only blemish coming in a 134-129 triple-overtime loss at Washington on Feb. 27.
Kyle Lowry*and*John Wall*are likely to dazzle when they share the floor as the Eastern Conference's starting backcourt in Sunday's NBA All-Star game.
They don't figure to be as friendly Wednesday night when the*Toronto Raptors*host the*Washington Wizards*in the third and final regular-season meeting of this budding rivalry.
Lowry got the better of Wall while leading Toronto (35-17) to a 120-116 overtime victory Jan. 31. Although Wall had 28 points and 12 assists and led Washington (33-20) back from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit, Lowry scored seven of his team-high 23 points in the extra period to help clinch the victory.
"(Washington) is a team that's up-and-coming, just like us," Lowry said Tuesday. "Their goals are the same as ours, so it always makes out for a great game."
Lowry's task was far easier in Toronto on Nov. 7. He recorded his sixth career triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in a 103-84 victory, while Wall shot 3 for 13 and scored just eight points -- two more than his season low and one of only four games this season in which he failed to reach double figures.
Both losses remain fresh on the Wizards point guard's mind.
"(Beating Toronto) would be great for us," Wall said Monday. "We could have beaten them here last time, first time they blew us out. This is the last time we play this team until we maybe play them in the playoffs, so you have to go out there and let this team know they don't have full advantage and they can dominate you any time they want."
Washington's*Bradley Beal*will miss his third straight contest. The Wizards initially believed Beal was dealing with a toe injury, but a medical exam revealed it to be a mild stress reaction in his lower right fibula. He'll be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.
Beal also missed the November loss in Toronto, but returned in the second matchup with 26 points and five 3-pointers.
The Wizards have managed without Beal and won the two games he's already missed following a season-worst five-game skid, flashing some defensive prowess by holding Brooklyn and Orlando to a combined 36.9 percent shooting.
"(We are) getting back to fundamentals defensively," Wall said. "Moving the ball as a team and playing defense, that's when we're at our best. We just got to do a better job of not turning it over, and we'll be back to where we were earlier in the season."
Washington ranks among the top defensive teams in the league with 97.4 points allowed per game and is 17-0 when holding the opposition to 91 or fewer.
Toronto sits among the NBA's best with 105.8 points per game. After averaging 84.0 over back-to-back losses, the Raptors bounced back Friday with a 123-107 win over the*Los Angeles Clippers*before grinding out an 87-82 victory against San Antonio on Sunday.
"We are trying to get where they are and where they've been," Lowry told the team's official website of the Spurs. "It's a great test for us. They know every night that they are getting every team's best shot because of who they are.
"For us, it's a stepping-stone."
The Raptors lead the Atlantic Division and are second in the East behind Atlanta. They have a 2 1/2-game advantage over the Wizards, who sit third in the conference.
Toronto has won six of the last seven meetings, with the only blemish coming in a 134-129 triple-overtime loss at Washington on Feb. 27.