Toronto beat the Wizards 112-102 and never trailed: no lead changes, no ties, and a cushion that peaked at 17. It looked easy after one quarter and got harder after that, until Scottie Barnes and a bench-heavy closing group settled it.
Ahead, Never Comfortable
The Raptors opened with a 34-21 first quarter, and that start carried the night. Washington took the next two quarters, 31-26 and 25-21. An 8-0 Wizards run in the second cut a 40-26 lead to 40-34, and Toronto went into the fourth up just 81-77. Toronto won the last quarter 31-25. Barnes scored 11 in the fourth, RJ Barrett added 8 and Kawhi Leonard 7, which was enough to answer Tre Johnson's 10-point quarter off the Washington bench. Trae Young finished with 22 points and 12 assists, but it took him 15 shots to get there.
The Bench Wins It
Darko Rajakovic closed the decisive five minutes with Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja'Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, Barrett and Barnes. That choice matched the numbers. Murray-Boyles was +21 in 18 minutes, with 8 points on 3-of-6 shooting and 3 steals. Walter was +19 in 24 minutes, hitting 2 of 7 threes with 2 steals and a block. The bench scored only 25 points to the starters' 85, but it won its minutes clearly. At the other end, Leonard was -5 in 28 minutes, Jamison Battle -4 and Jakob Poeltl -3. Grades: Barrett earns an A for 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 9 rebounds and zero turnovers. Barnes gets an A-minus, because 8 turnovers take some shine off a 28-and-14 line. Leonard gets a C: 7-of-20 shooting, 2-of-8 from three and no free throws, partly offset by 3 steals. Immanuel Quickley went 0-for-6 from deep but kept the offense moving with 6 assists.
What 2-0 Buys
Toronto sits fourth in the East, a game and a half clear of 11th. The Raptors get two days off before Minnesota on October 25, then face Orlando twice in three nights, on October 28 and October 30, the second an Emirates NBA Cup game. Nate Bittle is out with a right foot problem and is expected back October 28. Barnes leads a group whose closers do not depend on a hot night from Leonard or Quickley, and that is a useful thing to know two games into the season.
Who led the Raptors in scoring against the Wizards?
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. RJ Barrett added 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
Did the Raptors trail at any point against Washington?
No. Toronto led from start to finish with no lead changes or ties, though Washington got within 81-77 after three quarters.
