DeRozan scores 34 as Raptors edge Wizards 94-91

TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Raptors had their regular starting lineup together for the first time in weeks, and DeMar DeRozan took care of the rest.

DeRozan tied his season high with 34 points, and the Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 94-91 on Wednesday night.

DeRozan went 15 for 15 at the free-throw line as Toronto won its fifth straight regular-season game against the Wizards, who swept the Raptors in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Terrence Ross added 14 points for the Raptors (20-13), who have won three of four. Bismack Biyombo, who started the previous 18 games at center in place of injured Jonas Valanciunas, had 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.

Valanciunas returned to the lineup after being out with a hand injury. Forward DeMarre Carroll played in his third straight game after being out with a knee contusion.

It had been 18 games since those two started alongside DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola.

''Every game is going to be a process and I think it's going to continue to get better,'' DeRozan said. ''It feels good to be healthy again.''

Valanciunas had eight points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes.

Otto Porter led the Wizards (14-16) with 20 points and nine rebounds. John Wall had 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

''We have to do a better job of being the aggressor for 48 (minutes),'' Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. ''Tonight we weren't. At the end we were and it made a big difference.''

The Raptors shot just 34 percent from the field, but enjoyed a 55-44 rebounding edge. The Wizards shot 40 percent and missed three 3s in the final seconds that could have tied the game.

''That's how it's supposed to be for us,'' Ross said. ''The shots aren't always going to be there, the shots aren't always going to fall but having defense to lean back on that's where we've got to be consistent.''

The Raptors appeared to be in control with 3:13 to go after Wall was assessed a technical foul for complaining about a call against him on Lowry. The three free throws gave Toronto a 90-81 lead.

But the Wizards scored the next seven points, and then pulled within one on Jared Dudley's 3 with 39 seconds to go. They missed three 3s on their final possession.

''We started to play better down the stretch but we've got to play that way the whole game,'' Porter said. ''I feel like we didn't do that.

''We didn't match their intensity, their physicality inside and that allowed them to get up on us.''

The injury-riddled Wizards had just nine players available.

''We don't care whether we have a full team or not,'' Wall said. ''We still feel like we should have won this game. We had an opportunity to win this game, still, without playing well for three quarters.''

TIP-INS

Wizards: G Bradley Beal, averaging a team-best 19.8 points, missed his 10th straight game with a leg injury. The Wizards are 5-5 over that stretch. ... Washington was 6 for 26 from the field in the second quarter, while the Raptors were 5 for 22.

Raptors: After hitting their first two 3s of the night, the Raptors missed nine straight from beyond the arc.

WONDER WALL

Wall recorded his seventh straight double-double and 17th of the season. He averaged 22.6 points and 11.7 assists in 16 December games.

TOUGH D

Toronto improved to 18-3 when holding its opponent to less than 100 points.

DOWN TO THE WIRE

Four of the Raptors' five consecutive regular-season wins over Washington have been decided by four points or less.

QUOTABLE

''He's been efficient getting to the rim, drawing contact, taking the hits.'' - Toronto coach Dwane Casey on DeRozan.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Host Orlando on Friday night.

Raptors: Host Charlotte on Friday night.