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Raptors edge Wizards on DeRozan's basket

Feb 12, 2015 - 6:39 AM Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - DeMar DeRozan's jumper with 12.9 seconds remaining lifted the Toronto Raptors to a 95-93 victory over the Washington Wizards in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.

DeRozan's tie-breaking bucket capped a 23-point night, while Lou Williams poured in 27 points to give the Raptors a huge lift off the bench.

Toronto enters the break having won nine of its last 11 contests and in second place in the Eastern Conference, owning a commanding lead atop the Atlantic Division.

John Wall, who will join Toronto's Kyle Lowry to comprise the East's starting backcourt for Sunday's All-Star Game in Brooklyn, posted 21 points and eight assists to lead Washington. Paul Pierce and Nene finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively, in the Wizards' sixth loss in their last eight outings.

"Each one of us made some simple and small mistakes," Wizards center Marcin Gortat said.

Lowry recorded 13 points and six assists.

"It was big for us," Lowry said. "We just go out there and continue to get better."

Toronto overcame a 10-point deficit late in the third quarter and was down 85-80 midway through the fourth before moving in front via a 13-4 highlighted by a pair of treys from Williams.

Wall's 3-pointer with 2:10 to go pulled the Wizards back even at 93-93, but neither team scored again until DeRozan dribbled off a screen and knocked down a 16-footer that turned out to be the game-winner.

Washington drew up a play out of a timeout as the clock wound down, but Lowry blocked Wall's drive to the hoop and the Wizards' star point guard's desperation try at the buzzer was well off the mark.

The Wizards owned a 73-63 lead when Wall fed Otto Porter for an alley-oop slam with 3:18 left in the third quarter. Toronto then responded with a 15-3 surge that bled into the fourth, with Greivis Vasquez's triple capping the tear 42 seconds into the final frame and sending the Raptors ahead by a 78-76 count.

Garrett Temple buried a 3-pointer on the following possession, though, which started a 9-2 Washington run.

Williams' fadeaway near the end of the first quarter gave the Raptors a 27-25 edge after one period, and the sixth man knocked down a pair of treys during a 9-2 sequence to begin the second that extended the lead to nine.

Washington countered with a 9-1 flurry to pull within 37-36 midway through the quarter, and the game remained tight over the duration of the frame as the Raptors went into the break up 49-47.

The Wizards then put forth a 16-5 third-quarter run, in which Pierce dropped in eight points and that ended on Porter's dunk off Wall's give, to own the largest lead of the night by either side.

Game Notes

The Wizards announced prior to the game that guard Bradley Beal is dealing with a stress reaction in his lower right leg and will be re-evaluated following the All-Star break. Beal missed a third straight game on Wednesday ... Forward Kris Humphries (back) also sat out for Washington ... The Raptors swept the three-game season series between the clubs, which included a 103-84 win at Air Canada Centre on Nov. 7 ... Drew Gooden recorded a 10-point, 12- rebound double-double for Washington, which outrebounded Toronto by a 50-37 margin ... The Wizards have now lost in nine of their last 11 visits to Toronto.