WASHINGTON (AP) — Scottie Barnes scored 24 points and the Toronto Raptors beat NBA-worst Washington 106-82 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory and the Wizards' 15th loss in a row.
Jakub Poetl added 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists to help the Raptors to their first five-game winning streak since April 1, 2022. They have win seven of eight games.
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Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (8) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas (17) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown (11) dribbles the ball to the hoop against Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell (45) dribbles the ball down the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Washington Wizards head coach Brian Keefe reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole (13) pats Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell on the head as he pivots with the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett (9) goes up for a shot against Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto allowed its fewest points of the season and forced a season-high 27 turnovers.
Kyle Kuzma had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Washington. The Wizards had their worst scoring and turnover numbers of the season.
Raptors: Toronto began Wednesday 5 1/2 games back of Chicago for the final Eastern Conference play-in spot. The Raptors will play their next four at home.
Wizards: Exceeded their previous season-worst of 21 turnovers before the end of the third quarter, and could share the blame for their sloppiness.
Toronto began the game on a 14-0 run while Washington turned it over three times and missed its first eight shots. Jonas Valanciunas finally scored the Wizards' first points on a putback of his own miss with 6:53 left in the first quarter.
Toronto scored 22 first-half points off 15 Washington turnovers, en route to a 19-point halftime lead.
Toronto hosts Chicago on Friday night. Washington hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (8) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas (17) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown (11) dribbles the ball to the hoop against Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell (45) dribbles the ball down the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Washington Wizards head coach Brian Keefe reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole (13) pats Toronto Raptors guard Davion Mitchell on the head as he pivots with the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett (9) goes up for a shot against Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Otega Oweh scored 20 points and No. 17 Kentucky took advantage of its size to start the second half to pull away for an 82-61 win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats (18-8, 7-6 Southeastern Conference) led 41-40 at the half, but focused on going inside for their first three baskets of the second half and forced the Commodores to take a timeout three minutes in.
Amari Williams added 17 points for the Wildcats.
Devin McGlockton led Vanderbilt (17-9, 5-8) with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Commodores only shot 30% from the field in the second half — including 1 for 10 on 3-pointers — after shooting 49% in the first half.
Vanderbilt: The Commodores continued a troubling trend in second halves of conference games. They have allowed opponents to shoot 56% in the second half, 45% on 3-pointers. Kentucky shot 65% in the second half and 50% on 3s.
Kentucky: The Wildcats have only been at full strength seven times this season. They played without starters Lamont Butler (shoulder) and Jaxson Robinson (wrist) for the second straight game. Using a point guard by committee, freshmen Travis Perry and Colin Chandler combined for 13 points and seven rebounds.
After Vanderbilt had got within three points at 47-44, Kentucky went on a 12-2 run to open a double-digit lead at 59-46. Williams and Carr scored two baskets each and Koby Brea ended it with a 3-pointer.
The Commodores dominated the paint in the first half, outscoring the Wildcats 20-12 inside and holding an 18-12 rebounding edge, including eight offensive boards. Kentucky reversed that in the second half, winning the rebounding battle 18-12 and 20-14 in the paint.
Both teams play on Saturday, with Vanderbilt hosting No. 25 Mississippi and Kentucky traveling to No. 4 Alabama.
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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Kentucky's Otega Oweh (00) goes up between, from left, Vanderbilt's Chris Manon (30), Tyler Nickel (5) and Jason Edwards during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Crisp)