There were guys in different positions than they’ve been used to playing and groups on the floor utterly unfamiliar with each other, and there were moments fraught with peril for the Raptors on Friday night.
In their first game after losing three of their top six players to injuries, the Raptors not unexpectedly struggled at times before subduing the Washington Wizards 122-118 at Scotiabank Arena for their fourth straight victory.
Serge Ibaka played exclusively as a centre rather than beside Marc Gasol in a big lineup, and he poured in 23 points and didn’t look out of place for a second.