Elvin George
Apr 25, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) controls the ball as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends in the second quarter during game five of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
The Toronto Raptors take a trip down to Washington hoping to finish off the best of seven series with a 3-2 lead.
This will be a tough test for the Raptors as the team has never won a playoff game in Washington’s Capital One Arena. They’ve been there four times in the post-season.
“It was a hostile environment,” Raptors coach Dwayne Casey said following the Game 4 loss in Washington. “I hope our fans are the same way against them, the way the were against us. They were on us. They were loud.”
Wizards forward, Kelly Oubre Jr, added some drama after calling out Raptors guard Delon Wright.
“The next game is a different story. We’re back at home. Just like Delon doesn’t play well anywhere else other than at home,” Oubre said to the media. “You can kind of chalk it up as the same story”
Oubre said this after Wright scored only seven points in Game 4 in Washington, but scored 18 points in Toronto for Game 5. Many Raptor fans tweeted throughout Game 4 to encourage Delon Wright to shot more.
Delon Wright made a huge steal and bucket at the end of the floor. He’s been great this series other than passing up shots in Game 4.
— Zac (@ZacCanada) April 26, 2018
“People all on my twitter, instagram, my family, about 30 people told me to shoot more,” Wright said to the media when asked about his lack of shooting in Game 4. “Honestly, I couldn’t tell you i was kind of unselfish and tried to make the extra pass.
Wright had a crucial Game 5 performance as the third-year guard had 11 points in the final quarter to help the Raptors secure the win.
“People kept telling me stop hesitating and just shoot the ball, that’s what I tried to do today,” Wright said to the press following the Game 5 win.
In the past four playoff runs, the Raptors had the opportunity to finish the series in other teams’ arena four times, and actual
“I think the Raptors learned some important lessons in their first two road games – needing to be tougher on offense and not turn the ball over, for one,” Raptors Rapture writer Jordan Kruse said. “Raptors I think tonight we will see a more focused and collectively confident Raptors team.”
“Every player has to take (and make) open shots when presented with such opportunities. They beat Milwaukee in six last year and I believe they can do it again here.”
Raptors hope to bring the energy from their Game 5 win, and from the Wizards trash talk to stun the Washington crowd so they can finish the series tonight.