Wizards-Raptors Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN

(AP) -- The Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards endured five consecutive losing campaigns before making the playoffs last season. Both have picked up where they off with strong starts in 2014-15.

Looking to stay unbeaten at home, the Raptors try to snap the Wizards' four-game winning streak Friday night.

Toronto is on the verge of its first 5-1 start in team history after getting by Boston 110-107 on Wednesday. Kyle Lowry scored 35 points - one off his career high - and DeMar DeRozan added 23 as the Raptors had 36 points off 28 turnovers.

"He came out aggressive," DeRozan said of Lowry. "We need him to do that."

Toronto was outrebounded 55-24 but took care of business behind another strong effort at the line. The Raptors, who made 19 of 23 free throws, are averaging 27.2 made foul shots to rank second in the league.

It wasn't all smooth sailing, though, as Toronto fell behind by 16 in the first quarter before storming back.

"We can't be that way," coach Dwane Casey said. "It shouldn't have to come from me to crack the whip at every turn to get us going."

The Wizards (4-1) suffered a season-opening 107-95 loss at Miami but have held their last four opponents to an average of 93.0 points. Washington escaped with a 96-94 overtime victory over Indiana on Wednesday despite shooting 37.4 percent.

The Wizards led by as many as 12 in the third quarter before letting up. They were outrebounded 57-43, including 14-7 on the offensive glass.

"They are all not going to be easy," forward Drew Gooden said."The good thing is we got the win and that it's behind us. Now, we have to focus on Toronto. They are not going to all be pretty wins, there are going to be some ugly ones and tonight was an ugly one."

John Wall posted his fourth double-double with 31 points and 10 assists while Marcin Gortat added 14 points and 10 boards. Paul Pierce scored 11 despite shooting 3 of 15, including 0 for 4 from 3-point range.

At 21.4 points and 10.0 assists per game Wall is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 20 and 10 in those categories. He finished with 31 and nine, respectively, as the Wizards pulled out a 134-129 triple-overtime win at Toronto on Feb. 27, snapping a four-game skid in the series.

Washington had dropped seven of its previous eight north of the border. Wall averaged 25.3 points on 53.3 percent shooting in four games against the Raptors last season.

Toronto is 2-0 at home for the first time since winning its first three in 2004-05. The Raptors have allowed an average of 95.0 points in those two games compared to 103.0 on the road.

DeRozan leads the team with 22.0 points per game while Lowry is second at 19.6. DeRozan has shot just 39.8 percent thus far, well off his career mark of 44.6.

The Raptors are hoping to get forward Amir Johnson back following a three-game absence due to a sore ankle. However, Jonas Valanciunas could be out again with hand and face injuries.

Garrett Temple has given the Wizards a boost with 15.8 points per game during their winning streak while making 12 of 21 from 3-point range. He entered the season averaging 3.4 over his first four years in the league.