NBA 2018-19: 5 talking points from the Raptors' win against the Wizards

#2 Defensive intensity

Green (

centre

) attempting to thwart Bradley Beal's shot attempt

Defensive intensity. In this game, it was missing for two quarters - plus extras. While the Raptors recorded 70 first-half points, they gave the Wizards 62 of their own. In addition, they allowed their opponents a 9-0 run - losing the lead at 71-70.

Ultimately, they only scored 45 second-half points, so the Raptors eventually found their defensive stride. It's a great thing to be able to change gears and become more intense, but the team needs to strike a good balance between switching intensity levels and matching their opponent's level of play.

Bradley Beal and John Wall combined to score 31 points, on 12/29 shooting. The Raptors have strong showings across a number of defensive categories: ranked 7th overall in defensive rating, 5th in defensive rebounding, 5rd in opponent's FG% at 30.9%. A tough team to score against, it's important they maintain their defensive focus for extended stretches in games to avoid precarious situations in future.