Toronto Raptors: 3 takeaways from Game 5 vs. Wizards
2. Fourth quarter proves to be the difference for Toronto
Heading into the final frame with only a one-point lead, the Raptors were in danger of letting Game 5 get away from them.
As a team that’s struggled in past playoff games, the narrative surrounding the Raptors had they lost this game would’ve been more of the same.
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The Wizards took a five-point lead with 8:52 remaining in the quarter before Toronto put the clamps down and outscored Washington the rest of the way, 26-11, to bring home the victory.
This fourth quarter performance was proof that these Raptors are different from previous seasons, as DeRozan scored just two points in the final frame, while Delon Wright scored 11.
Jonas Valanciunas logged over eight minutes in that final quarter after playing zero 4th quarter minutes in the previous four games, keeping Wizards center Marcin Gortat off the glass after the Polish big man grabbed five offensive rebounds. He also made a key strip of Wall that led to a transition bucket for Toronto.
Normally, if DeRozan scores two points in the final frame, it’s a death sentence for the Raptors, but as the game hung in the balance, the other guys on Toronto stepped up in a huge way, not allowing Washington to head back home with a chance to close out the series.