Raptors vs Wizards

2023 - 3 - 2

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Sportsnet.ca"

Familiar flaws return for Raptors at inopportune time vs. Wizards (Sportsnet.ca)

The Raptors flashed a lot of their season-long flaws in a 119-108 loss to the Wizards. A lot of the Raptors' optimism of late has been based on Toronto's ...

VanVleet took a three in semi-transition and missed — he was 1-of-6 from deep at that point — and then after Porzingis made a three at the other end, Siakam took a three early in the clock that was never close. A couple of possessions later VanVleet got into the lane on the dribble and found Poeltl for a pair of scores, but there wasn’t enough of the latter and too much of the former. The Raptors defence was particularly special in the first half as they trailed 59-50 after two quarters, but their offence may have been the bigger issue. The loss marked the second time in the past week the Raptors (31-33) have had a chance to get back to the .500 mark and the second time they’ve fallen back in borderline embarrassing fashion. Toronto missed their first 10 field goal attempts and were trailing 10-0 after the first three minutes with Kuzma scoring all the points for both teams. Heading into this two-game match-up with the Wizards Toronto was 22nd in offensive rating over their past seven games and 20th in three-point shooting by percent and 24th by makes. We missed a lot of gimmes, we didn’t follow the game plan, those are games you just want to flush and go to the next one. It was the Raptors' search for offence that inspired them to sign former Wizard Will Barton as a free agent after he’d been waived last month. The wonky shooting was a symptom, but Toronto’s early season tendency to come up flat in a game when they need to be flying was on display too. The Raptors need some kind of help, period, as they flashed a lot of their season-long flaws in a 119-108 loss to the Washington Wizards. [Chris Boucher](/basketball/nba/players/chris-boucher/901190), who led the bench in scoring with 12 points in 13 minutes but was still minus-16 for the game. Two of his scores came on lay-ups cutting off Poeltl before he finished the run with a three, prompting a Wizards timeout with their lead down to 11 with 7:23 to play.

Raptors vs Wizards Picks and Predictions: Poeltl Continues to Make ... (Covers.com)

NBA odds, picks, and predictions for the Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards on March 2. NBA betting best bet and free pick analysis.

The Raptors look like a completely different team with Poeltl starting. But while things have looked up for the Raptors with Poeltl as their starting center, they're still working out the kinks on offense. One: they lead the NBA in both turnover rate and steals per game. I’d take a look at Toronto on the moneyline tonight. And their best offensive outputs of late have come against lesser defenses. They rank 15th in offensive rating and 19th in defensive rating. They finally have a rim protector and with him manning the paint, Toronto ranks eighth in defensive rating during his six games as a starter. It was the team’s eighth win in their last 10 games. Tonight, he goes up against a Wizards team that's been OK at best when it comes to containing big men. They aren’t overly good or bad at anything in particular. However, after winning eight of its last 10 games, Toronto has its sights set higher than the play-in. So, it’s interesting to see his point total for this matchup set at 11.5.

Raptors vs. Wizards: Lineups, betting odds, injuries, TV info for ... (The Rookie Wire)

C Jakob Poeltl; G Scottie Barnes; G Fred VanVleet. Washington Wizards: F Deni Avdija; F Kyle Kuzma; C Daniel Gafford; G Bradley Beal; G Delon Wright.

(two-way contract), Ron Harper Jr. - G Bradley Beal added 19 points and five rebounds off the bench. The Wizards maintained position in the play-in race with the win, but are just one game ahead of [Chicago](https://bullswire.usatoday.com/) in 11th place. [Atlanta](https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/tag/atlanta-hawks) on Tuesday. The contest is the first of the season between the two teams and the first half of a back-to-back set.

Wizards vs. Raptors odds, line: 2023 NBA picks, March 2 predictions ... (CBSSports.com)

SportsLine's model just revealed its NBA picks for Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards.

[Chicago Bulls](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/CHI/chicago-bulls/) 104-98 on Tuesday. Raptors 10,000 times and the results are in. Raptors](https://www.sportsline.com/nba/game-forecast/NBA_20230302_TOR@WAS/). They'll hope to use their length similarly to create pressure in the passing lanes and crash the glass on Thursday. Washington also got a strong performance from [Kyle Kuzma](/nba/players/2842826/kyle-kuzma/), who poured in 28 points. One fewer option that the Raptors won't have to contend with is starting point guard Here are several [NBA betting lines](https://www.sportsline.com/nba/odds) for Raptors vs. You can head to SportsLine to [see its picks](https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/wizards-vs-raptors-odds-line-spread-proven-model-reveals-nba-picks-predictions-for-march-2-2023/#ttag=03022023_agg_cbssports_picks_basketball_nba_model_wizardsraptorsnbaauto). [Toronto Raptors](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/TOR/toronto-raptors/) will take on the [Washington Wizards](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/WAS/washington-wizards/) at 7 p.m. The model enters Week 20 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 57-30 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,300. Before entering any Raptors vs. Raptors odds from Caesars Sportsbook and the over/under is set at 223.

Raptors vs Wizards injury report for March 2: Is Fred VanVleet playing? (Raptors Rapture)

The Toronto Raptors will have the services of Fred VanVleet and the rest of their starting rotation against the Washington Wizards.

He is out for the season due to a foot problem that ruined his debut season. The 7-3 Latvian could be a handful against a Raptors team that is still lacking size. After a poor game against Chicago, VanVleet will need to shake off the rust somehow.

Partner Content | Raptors vs. Wizards odds and best bets: Props and ... (Toronto Star)

The Toronto Raptors will face off with a Washington Wizards team that sits right next to them in the standings on Thursday night.

The defensive-minded wing has struggled to score in recent weeks — both before and after his recent wrist injury. Even before Morris’ injury, Wright had been solid on this line in recent weeks. [ NBA odds ](https://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2MiZsPTEzNTM0OTEwJnA9MTc2OTk%3D) as of 9:58 a.m. Toronto should be able to replicate that kind of production against a Wizards team that’s struggling on defence right now. [ Anunoby under 13.5 points (-108) ](https://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUzNDc2MiZsPTEzNTM0OTEwJnA9MTcxMjc%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2023_NorthStarBets_&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): While we expect Toronto’s offence to thrive that doesn’t mean Anunoby is in for a big day. [ Best Bet ](https://online.northstarbets.ca/page?key=ej0xMzUyODU0NyZsPTEzNTI4NTQzJnA9MTQ5OTc%3D&utm_source=thestar&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=NorthStarBetsawareness2022_NorthStarBets__&utm_content=custom/tracking_textlink): Raptors over 111.5 points (-118)

Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards Matchup: Lineup updates ... (RaptorsHQ)

Bradley Beal has made life miserable for the Raptors many times. Can they hold him in check as these two teams fight for play-in positioning?

So yes — if the Raptors want to make a postseason run (and obviously they do!) these games are critical. The Raptors are currently 9th place in the East, with the Wizards sitting just two wins back (both teams have 32 losses) in 10th place. You know, if making the play-in matters to you...