Recap: Washington vs. Toronto

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ever since Rudy Gay's arrival in Toronto, the Raptors continue to make a nice push up the standings.

As the second half of the season begins, the Raptors are hoping that Gay can lead them to the playoffs for the first time in five years.

Gay tallied 24 points and eight rebounds in Toronto's 96-88 win over the Washington Wizards.

Since the three-team swap that landed Gay, who's already made two game-winning shots, on Jan. 30, the Raptors have won six of their last eight contests. Currently the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference, Toronto sits five games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Gay goes up against his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, on Wednesday.

"We can hang out and stuff after the game and stuff like that," Gay said of squaring off against his former squad. "We're working on a streak right now. We're trying to win games. We don't have time for all the emotional stuff."

DeMar DeRozan added 24 points in the triumph.

Bradley Beal netted 25 points to lead Washington, which has dropped two straight on the heels of a four-game winning streak.

John Wall was just 1-of-12 from the field and committed seven turnovers in defeat.

"Burn it and look forward to the next one," Wall said of his performance.

Wall's reverse gave the Wizards a 19-18 lead before the Raptors countered with the next 11 that spanned the first and second quarters as Toronto opened up a 29-19 advantage in the beginning stages of the second.

Washington, though, netted the next 10 to tie it. But the visitors responded a bit later as Gay poured in seven points during a 9-2 flurry to help Toronto build a 45-39 cushion with 3:33 left in the period before taking a 55-46 edge into the break.

Toronto led 73-65 after three and the Wizards never cut the deficit below four in the final frame.