The Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors are coming off of wins over the Utah Jazz as they open a two-game series in Toronto on Saturday night.
The difference is rest. The Wizards have not played since their 125-122 home victory over the Jazz on Wednesday. The Raptors defeated the Jazz 118-109 on Friday to open a four-game homestand and will be completing back-to-back games.
The Wizards, in last place in the Eastern Conference, and the 13th-place Raptors will meet again on Monday.
The Raptors rested RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl on Friday, leaving Immanuel Quickley to score a season-best 34 points against Utah.
Scottie Barnes added 22 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocks as the Raptors won their third game in a row.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said Quickley will be rested on Saturday.
“I thought that his chemistry with Scottie was really good tonight in some actions that they run together but playing off of each other as well,” Rajakovic said.
It was Quickley’s highest point total since joining the Raptors from the New York Knicks in a trade last season. His career best is 40.
The Raptors closed the game with Quickley and Barnes on the court on Friday, but they were on the bench at the end of a 114-113 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.
“I just felt that the game was still close, and I thought that they needed those reps,” Rajakovic said. “From game to game I will be deciding who will be getting those reps to close the game.”
Ja’Kobe Walter, who made the game-winning 3-pointer against Orlando as one of the young players on the court to end the game, had 14 points on Friday but missed the second half with a right quadriceps strain.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Rajakovic said.
The Raptors are dealing with injuries to Ochai Agbaji (ankle), Gradey Dick (knee) and Jonathan Mogbo (nose). Chris Boucher (tooth extraction) also missed the game on Friday.
The Wizards would like to see 7-foot rookie Alex Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, build on his 21-point performance in the win over Utah on Wednesday, as his play in the paint improved.
“Definitely just trying to be aggressive,” Sarr said. “Get some easy ones around the rim before spacing out.”
Wizards coach Brian Keefe said he wants Sarr to carry what he showed in that performance into the rest of the season.
“Be aggressive, establish yourself early in the paint,” Keefe said. “That collapses the defense. He’s such a good passer. That’s going to lead to him finding other guys.”
Sarr had two blocked shots, one steal, five rebounds and four assists on Wednesday. He was 2-for-4 in 3-point attempts and 8-for-12 from the field overall.
“He can roll and pop, and he can play-make out of both,” Keefe said. “He can play-make in the short roll. He can play-make on the pop. These are unique skill sets for a guy of his size. This is why we have him.”
Kyshawn George led Washington with 23 points on Wednesday.
Jordan Poole (elbow) missed his third straight game on Wednesday but practiced on Friday. Richaun Holmes also did not play against the Jazz, and Malcolm Brogdon (ankle) missed his seventh consecutive game.
The Raptors won the other meeting with the Wizards this season, 106-82 on Jan. 29.
–Field Level Media
