Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends during the second half at Verizon Center in Washington, DC on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016. The Toronto Raptors defeated Washington Wizards 97-88.Tommy Gilligan
DeMar DeRozan scored 21 of his season-high 35 points in the second half, Kyle Lowry had 21 points and 10 assists, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 97-88 on Friday night.
The Raptors overcame a season-high 23 turnovers, taking control with an 18-4 run that gave them a 69-59 lead with 2:40 to play in the third quarter.
John Wall scored 21 points as Washington (15-19) lost for the fifth time in six games and matched a season worst at four games under .500.
The Wizards cut Toronto's lead to 89-83 with 2:50 to play, but couldn't get any closer.
Washington, which swept a four-game playoff series between the teams last spring, has lost six consecutive regular-season meetings to the Raptors.
TIP-INS
Raptors: F DeMarre Carroll missed his third game after right knee surgery on Wednesday. ... The Raptors are one of three teams with a record over .500 every day over the last two years. Chicago and Golden State are the others. ... F/G Terrence Ross left the game in the fourth quarter with a lower back injury. ... Toronto had a season-high 13 blocked shots.
Wizards: Coach Randy Wittman said that G Bradley Beal, who has missed 14 games with a right leg injury, is nearing a return. ... F Drew Gooden scored for the first time since Oct. 31. He played in his just second game since Nov. 17 because of a strained right calf. ... F Kris Humphries has a sore right knee and missed his second straight game.
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION:
Wittman said his team, which often has had five or six players hurt, is getting healthy.
"We had a party last night," Wittman said. "We had 10 guys to practice. We got to go a little bit of 5-on-5. That was the first time since right around Thanksgiving we've been able to do that."
WALL SPEED:
Toronto coach Dwane Casey says that it's hard to play against Wall because of his speed.
"A lot of guys are not as fast as Wall, and they try to be as fast as him, and it speeds you up," Casey said. "You can't duplicate that in practice. You can't simulate that in practice."
UP NEXT
Raptors: Visit Philadelphia on Saturday.
Wizards: Visit Orlando on Saturday.