WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Raptors had to know the counterpunch was coming. The Washington Wizards, as bad as they’d looked in the opening couple of games of their first-round series, were a far more accomplished team than their playoff form had so far suggested.
Dwane Casey cautioned his team to prepare for it: “We’ve got to play this game like it’s 0-0,” said the Raptors coach. Kyle Lowry talked about the importance of “staying the course” and “staying cool” when Washington brought its inevitable onslaught.
“The intensity of the playoffs, every single game gets raised,” Lowry had warned on Friday morning.