The Washington Wizards made it back-to-back wins in their first-round NBA playoff series against the Toronto Raptors as they clinched a 117-106 victory at the Air Canada Centre.
Toronto made a bright start as they tried to put the defeat in game one behind them, with early baskets from DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas leaving the hosts five points up by the end of the first quarter.
Washington were quick to respond though, as John Wall and Paul Pierce both hit their stride before half time, putting the visitors ahead at the break as they outscored the Raptors 34-18 in the second period.
The Wizards continued to extend their lead in the second half, with Wall piling on the points to give the visitors a 22-point lead heading into the final 12 minutes.
The Raptors did cut the gap in the fourth, with DeRozan and Lou Williams getting the deficit down to 11 in the final 30 seconds, but there was not enough time for them to complete the comeback.
With the Wizards leading the series 2-0, the teams meet again on Friday in Washington.
Sian Cowper
