Washington Wizards Win Overtime Thriller

It took 63 minutes, but finally the Washington Wizards escaped Canada and the Toronto Raptors.  The Wizards, who held a 2-6 overtime record entering Thursday, topped the Raptors in quiet possibly the best game of 2014 by a final score of 134-129.

The three-overtime thriller held 15 lead changes and 19 ties with the drama beginning near the end of the fourth quarter.

Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Marin Gortat, who finished with a season high of 31 points, hit one of his 12 shots from the field with just over five seconds remaining in regulation to knot the score at 106.  Then, on the other end of the floor, Gortat came up with a clutch block on guard Kyle Lowry in the waning seconds.

The first overtime was riddled with tough defense and high energy as the Raptors held the edge for most of the five minute period.  It was John Wall who saved the day for the Wizards with an excellent drive and layup to tie the game at 114 a piece.

Then, in the second overtime, it was all Washington as they jumped out to a four-point lead.  Slow but surely, however, the Raptors chipped away and DeMar DeRozan sent the game into a third overtime with a fancy spin move along the baseline and bucket.

Still, the Wizards maintained momentum and rain away with the three overtime win.  John Wall was the team’s top performing finishing his night with 31 points and 9 assists.  As a team, Washington finished with the 6 players scoring in double figures and extended their season high win streak to five games.  Washington will look to continue their hot streak Saturday against the lonely Philadelphia 76ers.