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*Photo via AP
Washington Wizards vs Toronto Raptors Game 3
The Washington Wizards took on the Toronto Raptors Friday night at home. They looked to go up 3-0 against the Raptors. This was a must win game for the Raptors, as no team has ever come back to win a series down 0-3.
The first quarter started better than game one's first quarter as it was high scoring. Both team scored in the 30's, as the Wizards shot 58.3 percent from the field and the Raptors shot 51.9 percent.
DeMar DeRozan was having his best game against the Wizards this postseason and that was just in the first quarter. He scored 20 points on eight of 11 shooting. The Raptors looked great in the first quarter, however, they slowed down in the second. They only scored 13 points, shot 25 percent and were down six points at the half.
John Wall had another great game along with Marcin Gortat and Drew Gooden. John Wall did not shoot well from the field, but was sharing the ball well. Gortat also had 24 points and Drew Gooden knocked down some huge shots.
Paul Pierce hit a huge three in the fourth with 6:37, to put the Wizards up 84-80 and to end a hectic few minutes filled with turnovers and bodies falling all over the court. But the Raptors scored quickly, to regain the lead. The fourth quarter continued to go back and forth.
Pierce and Otto Porter hit back to back threes to put the Wizards up eight with 1:58. Pierce hit another clutch shot to put the Wizards up six with 17 seconds left. Pierce scored 11 in the fourth. The Wizards won 106-99.
Player of the Game: Paul Pierce. John Wall and Marcin Gortat played exceptionally well, but Pierce hit so many clutch shots and put the game away. He scored 18 points, in just 27 minutes.
Dud of the Game: Kyle Lowry. For the second straight game, Lowry played awful. He shot five of 22 from the field with 15 points.
Stat of the Game: Threes. The Wizards shot 41 percent from three and hit so many of them down the stretch that sealed the win for them.
Breakdown: After shooting 52 percent from the field in the first quarter, the Raptors ended the game shooting 37 percent and falling 0-3. DeRozan started out eight of 11, but ended up 11 of 29. They will inevitably lose this series to the Wizards. Kyle Lowry has been a disappointment for the Raptors and one would wonder what will happen to this team in this offseason. On the other side, the Wizards look to wrap this series up on Sunday.
Next game is on Sunday at 6:30 on TNT