VanVleet hits pair of 3-pointers in OT as Raptors defeat Wizards

Fred VanVleet made two three-pointers in overtime and scored 25 points, and the visiting Toronto Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 116-109 on Saturday to split their two-game series.

Gary Trent Jr. scored 26 points to lead the Raptors, who bounced back from their 119-108 loss Thursday night to move back ahead of the Wizards into ninth place in the Eastern Conference.

“I thought we shot better,” VanVleet said. “Created the same amount of good looks, but shot a little bit better and we just guarded a little bit tougher down the stretch finishing out the game, closing out the game.”

Kristaps Porzingis had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards. Bradley Beal added 21 points and 10 assists, but shot just seven for 22 and missed a jumper that could have won it in regulation.

“We knew that we wanted to make it 2-0, but we fell a little bit short,” Porzingis said. “We made a comeback, had opportunities, fell short. That’s how it goes in this game.”

VanVleet snapped a 107-all tie with a three-pointer with 1:47 remaining in OT. After Kyle Kuzma made a pair of free throws to cut it to one, VanVleet knocked down another three that made it 113-109, and Siakam’s three-point play with 15 seconds to go put it away.

WATCH | VanVleet leads Raptors past Wizards in OT:

Neither team had a double-digit lead through three quarters, but Toronto appeared to be taking control when it opened a 97-84 advantage with 9:24 to play.

VanVleet missed another three and Beal missed a jumper to force the extra period.

“I think the big thing is during the break between the end of the game and the OT, the assistant coaches, the message was: `We are generating awesome shots. We’re going to make them in the overtime,”‘ Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “Like, just keep doing what we’re doing.”

Wright had a season-high 18 points, tied a career high with six steals and added seven assists and six rebounds.

The Raptors face the Nuggest in Denver on Monday night.