The Washington Wizards, who have the fewest wins in the NBA this season, have a chance for their second three-game winning streak on Monday night in their rematch with the host Toronto Raptors.
The Wizards scraped out a 118-117 road victory on Saturday when a video review determined that a floating jump shot by Toronto rookie Jamal Shead did not leave his hand before time had expired.
The ball bounced on the rim a couple of times before dropping in, and the Toronto bench stormed the court only to be deflated by the review.
Wizards coach Brian Keefe admired the attempt.
“Give them credit,” he said. “I mean it was a really tough shot … with two guys all over him. I thought that was the game.”
“I was hyped, I thought we won the game,” Shead said. “And then after the review I was kind of sad. But we play them again Monday. Next-game mindset.”
Shead started in place of Immanuel Quickley, who was rested after scoring 34 points in a 118-109 win over the visiting Utah Jazz on Friday.
The Wizards, who have only 13 victories, won three straight from Feb. 1-5.
Washington’s Jordan Poole led all scorers with 34 points.
“He just played within the flow of the game,” Keefe said. “This is a good defensive team that can pressure you. And he didn’t force anything. He didn’t have to. The ball was moving. When it came to him, he shot it, or he drove it. I thought he played a really efficient game when it came out, obviously, in the stats. But I liked how he just let the game come to him.”
There were stretches when the Wizards were more aggressive on long rebounds after missed 3-pointers, helping them open a 13-point lead in the third quarter.
Washington’s Khris Middleton, acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 5, scored 12 points and continued to add veteran stability to a young team.
His jumper with 46 seconds left gave the Wizards a three-point lead and turned out to be the game-winning shot.
“I’m just trying to make the right reads, play basketball,” Middleton said. “And it’s on me to distribute the ball and not just worry about myself.”
Shead, whose bucket with 29 seconds left cut Washington’s lead to 118-117, had 11 points, nine assists and five rebounds.
“He just continues growing,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said. “I’m really impressed with the intensity that he brings. I’m really impressed how he’s starting to manipulate the floor and get guys in the right spots and organize the team. He did a really good job today.”
RJ Barrett had 23 points and Jakob Poeltl scored 21 for Toronto after both were rested on Friday.
The Raptors have given young players more minutes in a rebuilding season.
“What are the paths to how to get to the next level? For each player, it’s going to be different,” Rajakovic said. “What I do know, what’s coming for all of them is that there has to be hard work.”
–Field Level Media
