Jordan Poole returned after missing three games with an elbow injury to score 34 points and the visiting Washington Wizards defeated the Toronto Raptors 118-117 on Saturday night.
Washington had to wait out a review that ruled that Jamal Shead’s shot that could have won the game for Toronto did not beat the buzzer.
Bilal Coulibaly added 18 points for the Wizards, who have won two straight. Khris Middleton and Corey Kispert each scored 12 points. Richaun Holmes had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Alex Sarr had 10 points and 14 rebounds.
RJ Barrett scored 23 points and Jakob Poeltl scored 21 for Toronto. Scottie Barnes added 18 points for the Raptors. Jared Rhoden scored 13 points, Shead and Jamison Battle each scored 11 points.
The Wizards intended to attack the Raptors’ pressure and speed with a push-and-run approach. They had some early success with the high-tempo approach, but the Raptors closed the first quarter with a 7-1 burst to lead 39-33.
Toronto took a 10-point lead with 8:48 left in the second quarter on a weird play. Barnes missed on his attempt at a running dunk, but the ball bounced to Battle, who swished a corner 3-pointer.
Washington used a 9-2 spurt to cut the lead to three with 6:18 to go. Marcus Smart’s two free throws gave the Wizards a one-point lead with 32 seconds left in the half. After Toronto missed a shot, Poole hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Washington led 69-65.
The Wizards took advantage of Toronto’s missed shots and turnovers, were more aggressive pursuing long rebounds and took a 13-point lead on Coulibaly’s two free throws with 8:16 remaining in the third quarter. Toronto chipped at the lead, taking advantage of Washington’s missed shots, to cut the deficit to 95-89 after three quarters.
Poeltl scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to trim the margin to one. Washington led by eight with 6:43 left after Poole hit two consecutive 3-pointers. The Wizards’ lead was one after Rhoden made one of two foul shots with 1:07 left. The teams exchanged baskets before Toronto took possession with two seconds left to set up Shead’s futile floater that left his fingertips a split second after time expired and banked in.
