Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors: Three Keys To Victory
The Washington Wizards play the second game of their first back-to-back of the season tonight as they face the Toronto Raptors.
Washington has blown leads in the fourth quarter of the last two games and if they played better in the last couple minutes of those games the narrative around this team would be completely different.
There is nothing the Wizards can do now but move forward and build on the successes and things they are doing well.
When it comes to beating the Raptors there are three key areas Washington needs to perform well in to come away with a victory.
READ MORE: Wizards vs. Raptors Game Predictions
1. Force and Limit Turnovers
Toronto turns the ball over 15 times a game on average and the Wizards are fourth in the NBA in steals averaging 9.15 per game.
If Washington can force turnovers, which they have been good at, and convert them on the other end they can win this game.
In two of the Raptors five losses, they have turned the ball over 19 and 21 times.
On the opposite side Toronto is getting 9.5 steals a game in wins and only 6.4 in losses, so protecting the ball, especially in a tight game, will be extremely important.
Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija (8) reacts after his team scores during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center.
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
2. Win the Battle from Three-Point Land
The Raptors are great defensively at the perimeter allowing only 11 makes a game at a 32.7 percent which is fifth best in the NBA.
In losses they are giving up a slightly higher percentage of 34.8.
Toronto is not good from deep in losses only getting 10 threes a game at 30.9 percent.
For Washington they are shooting 38.2 percent in wins and making 17 a game, while only making 11.6 at 33.6 percent in losses.
It is a huge disparity for both teams in wins and losses which leads to a reasonable conclusion that if the Wizards can do enough from three, they can keep it close enough to pull out a win.
READ MORE: Wizards vs. Raptors: Injury Report, Starting Lineups & Where to Watch
3. Avoid the 'Bad' Quarter
In six of the seven losses for Washington, they've lost a quarter by double-digits.
Against the Indiana Pacers it was by 10-points in the second quarter.
At home against Boston, the Celtics had a 23-point advantage in the first quarter.
A 13-point second quarter victory for the Atlanta Hawks.
The Miami Heat had a third quarter burst which led to a 14-point edge.
They were blitzed at home while blowing the lead in the fourth quarter by 16-points in a crushing loss where to the Charlotte Hornets.
Then Brooklyn got off to a fast start at home and took a 15-point lead in the first quarter in a game the Nets would win by eight.
It is imperative that Washington avoids a double-digit hole in any of the quarters if they want to compete.
If the Wizards do these three things, they have a much better shot of winning.
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