Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors are on a hot streak, seeking their fifth consecutive win as they head to the nation’s capital to face the struggling Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
Barnes has been instrumental in Toronto’s recent success, averaging a team-high 21.7 points during their current four-game winning streak. The third-year forward has consistently scored over 20 points in the Raptors’ last three games, leading the team with 25 and 24 points in back-to-back wins against Atlanta, and matching Jakob Poeltl’s team-high 21 points in Monday’s 113-104 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Despite Barnes’ impressive performance, shooting guard RJ Barrett remains the Raptors’ leading scorer this season, averaging 22 points per game in 38 appearances. Barrett also contributes 6.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, while Barnes tops the team with 6.6 assists per game.
Seven Raptors players are averaging double figures in scoring this season, with six of them playing in over 30 games. However, Toronto’s defense has been a significant issue, with a 115.9 defensive rating, placing them 25th in the league.
Although it’s been a challenging season for the 14-win Raptors, they’ll face one of the few teams experiencing even more difficulties.
The Wizards are amid a significant rebuild, showcasing some defensive potential but still requiring more time and pieces to become a winning team.
Washington enters Wednesday’s game on a 14-game losing streak, which isn’t even their worst this season. They endured a league-high 16-game losing streak in November, marking the second consecutive season with a 16-game skid.
The Wizards have only secured six wins this season, with their most recent victory on New Year’s Day. Additionally, they’ve lost their last five games by double digits and nine of their previous ten games.
The Wizards’ struggles were highlighted in Monday’s 130-108 loss to Dallas, where the Mavericks outscored them 42-16 in the first quarter.
Jordan Poole has been a bright spot for Washington’s offense, averaging 21.2 points and 5.0 assists per game. Kyle Kuzma contributes 14.3 points per game in 28 appearances, while Malcolm Brogdon averages 13.8 points per game.
