Fred VanVleet Comes Up Clutch at Both Ends as Raptors Get Crucial Series Split vs. Wizards

The Toronto Raptors got a bounce-back game from Fred VanVleet who smothered Bradley Beal in a crucial overtime victory over the Washington Wizards

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Fred VanVleet needed it.

All season he’s been the whipping boy for the Toronto Raptors. Yes, he’s missed an unusual number of shots, big ones too. For whatever reason, his always-reliable three-pointer just hasn’t been all that reliable this season. But anyone who thinks Toronto is better off without the 29-year-old is sorely mistaken.

When Toronto needed a win Saturday night against the Washington Wizards, VanVleet delivered in the biggest game of the season. He smothered Bradley Beal and iced the game with a pair of threes as the Raptors escaped with a crucial 116-109 victory to split their two-game set with the Wizards.

It was almost for naught too. A pair of missed three-pointers in overtime and a would-be game-winner late in the fourth quarter from VanVleet had the pitchforks out again. But VanVleet didn’t let his missed jumpers stay with him.

Every time Beal tried to shake off Anunoby to get a mismatch against the barely 6-foot VanVleet, Toronto’s lead guard stood tall as Beal went 0-for-4 in overtime and just 2-for-7 in the fourth.

It was a playoff-like game for the Raptors who couldn’t afford to lose two straight to the Wizards and after a no-show Thursday, Toronto responded Saturday. Save for a 7-0 start from Kristaps Porziņģis reminiscent of opening minutes from Kyle Kuzma in the opening game, the Raptors hung tight with Washington. Scottie Barnes showed the early aggression Toronto has been begging him for this season, nailing a pair of tough jumpers and driving the lane for a wide-open slam.

Even the bench, the had been so dreadful in the first game, looked much improved. Will Barton nailed a pull-up three to open the second quarter, his first points as a Raptor and the second unit treaded water as Toronto dealt with early foul trouble to Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl, and O.G. Anunoby.

A second-quarter lull from Toronto stuck the Wizards to an eight-point lead, but Siakam righted the ship with a tough take inside before setting up VanVleet for a fadeaway three-pointer as the Raptors strung together a 9-0 run of their own.

That connection carried over into the third as Siakam continued to find VanVleet behind the arc. The ball began whizzing around offensively with VanVleet at the head of the attack. He bounced back from a disappointing outing, nailing six three-pointers for 25 points, including a buzzer-beater to put the Raptors up seven heading into the fourth.

Every time the Raptors began to pull away, Washington seemed to have a response. Delon Wight, Bradley Beal, and Corey Kispert all made Toronto pay from behind the arc, keeping the Wizards within striking distance throughout.

The bench, though, stepped up late again. Toronto had been clinging to a one-point lead when Siakam and Anunoby checked out in the third. Enter Gary Trent Jr. who spurred on an 11-2 run for the Raptors with nine points to start the fourth as Toronto jumped ahead by double digits. Trent led all scorers with 26 points for the Raptors on 11-for-18 shooting.

It just wasn’t going to be that easy. A pair of missed assignments left Porziņģis wide open for a dunk before Wright tied things up with another three-pointer to eventually force overtime.

With the victory, Toronto moved a game ahead of Washington for the ninth seed in the conference with the head-to-head tiebreaker still up for grabs later this month.

Up Next: Denver Nuggets

The Raptors will continue their five-game road trip Monday night when they take on the Denver Nuggets at 9 p.m. ET.