This one really hurt. Unexpectedly televised on TSN, it was announced prior to the tip that Kevin Willis, so key in the opening night win over the Celtics, would miss the game due to back spasms. That left me thinking the Raptors' chances were slim and none. But they almost proved me wrong.
The game was pretty even through the first half, with Washington not looking very sharp. Butch Carter used more men off the bench, playing John Thomas a surprising amount, as well as John Wallace and new point guard Mark Baker. Thomas did some nice things rebounding and fighting for loose balls, but I still cringe when the Raptors pass it to him, as he seems like a turnover waiting to happen, a la Zan Tabak. Wallace only got about 10 minutes of playing time and only connected for 2 points. At halftime, the score was 50-48 for Toronto.
Toronto came out strong in the third quarter, led by some sharp shooting by Dee Brown, who hit 4 3-pointers. Tracy McGrady McGrady showed flashes of his enormous talent, and the Raptors held a 9 point lead going into the fourth. They extended that lead to as much as 14, leading one to dream about opening the season with 2 straight wins, on the road, no less. Alas, it wasn't to be. As happened so many times last year, the Raptors offence fell apart down the stretch, with nobody able to provide a guaranteed bucket. Washington took a 1 point lead on Calbert Cheaney's shot with 11 seconds left, and the last play was a microcosm of the entire fourth quarter. Doug Christie took the inbounds pass, frantically looked for someone to pass to, found nobody, and threw up an off-balance shot facing away from the bucket which clanked harmlessly off the rim.
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