Raptors Kick Off Pre-Season With 125-98 Victory Against Wizards

Summary:

• The Toronto Raptors defeated the Washington Wizards 125-98 in the first preseason game in Montreal.
• Chris Boucher scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• Gradey Dick, Kelly Olynyk, Jamal Shead, Jahmi’us Ramsey, and Jamison Battle each scored 10 points.

The Toronto Raptors kicked off their NBA pre-season in style, dominating the Washington Wizards 125-98 in Montreal on Sunday night. 

Despite the absence of stars Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, hometown hero Chris Boucher stole the show at the Bell Centre.

The longest-serving Raptor scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds in just 17 minutes. 

“The Fans Support Us”

Chris Boucher’s performance electrified the sellout crowd of 21,900, many of whom were friends and family. The 31-year-old born in Saint Lucian on his second NBA pre-season game played in Montreal said

The fans support us, they embrace us when we’re in town, and you can feel the love. I’m glad that we had the win. I’m glad that we played well and to our standards and that we were able to give them a good show.

RJ Barret Exited With an Injury 

Raptors Rowan Alexander ‘RJ‘ Barrett Jr. led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in 14 minutes, all in the first half. 

However, the 24-year-old was forced to leave the game early after bruising his right shoulder in a collision with Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas. 

Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković said that Barrett would undergo further evaluation on Monday.

Gradey Dick, Kelly Olynyk, Jamal Shead, Jahmi’us Ramsey and Jamison Battle all contributed 10 points each for Toronto, with Shead and Davion Mitchell dishing out nine assists between them. 

On Washington’s side, it was Jordan Poole who led with 16 points and six assists, while Swiss-Canadian forward Kyshawn George, who made his NBA debut, scored eight points in front of a large group of family members, including his grandparents. 

Just as amazing as I imagined it, it was just a blessing to be able to spend my first game in front of my family

The energetic crowd included stars such as newlyweds Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey, Canadian Olympian Natalie Achonwa, and Raptors legend Vince Carter, who will become the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired on November 2.

Wizards Coach Keefe: “We didn’t Love Our Start”

The Raptors started strong, opening with a 13-2 run, led by Barrett and Dick. 

Boucher and George received loud ovations when they checked into the game in the first quarter, with Boucher’s dunk helping Toronto extend their lead to 34-16. 

Toronto extended its lead to 56-38 at halftime, with Boucher adding eight more points in the third quarter with multiple baskets from Alexandre Sarr and George.

Although the Wizards cut the Raptors’ lead to 15, Toronto’s bench stepped up in the fourth quarter, with Battle scoring eight quick points, including two threes, to secure the victory.

Wizards coach Brian Keefe admitted that their slow start hurt them, saying,

We didn’t love our start. Second quarter was much better…but the start really hurt us.

The 26th head coach in the organization’s history added that while the “game got a little bit up and down in the third for both teams”, his team was “more competitive”.

Up next, the Raptors will meet the Wizards again in a rematch scheduled for Friday, followed by a home-and-home series against the Boston Celtics on October 13 and 15. 

They’ll wrap up their pre-season against the Brooklyn Nets on October 18. Toronto’s regular season opener will take place at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 23 as they celebrate their 30th anniversary.