NBA: Wizards down Raptors in Toronto to open playoffs

Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry (7) sits on the bench after fouling out of the game against the Washington Wizards during NBA playoff action in Toronto on Saturday, April 18, 2015. AP

TORONTO, Canada – The Washington Wizards, led by a strong performance from Paul Pierce, held on for a 93-86 overtime win over Toronto on the Raptors’ home floor on Saturday to open the NBA playoffs.

Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry (7) shoots against the Washington Wizards during the first half in Game 1 of the NBA basketball playoffs in Toronto, Saturday, April 18, 2015. AP

The Wizards squandered a lead that stretched to as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter, but allowed the Raptors to score just four points in overtime to seal the victory in the opener of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series.

In the extra session they limited the Raptors to just 2-of-9 shooting from the floor, 0-of-4 from three-point range.

Pierce scored five of his 20 points in overtime to pace Washington. Bradley Beal added 16, and Nene chipped in 12 points with a game-high 13 rebounds for the Wizards.

The defeat was a familiar feeling for the Raptors. Toronto have reached the post-season seven times in club history — and have lost their opener seven times.

In their prior playoff appearances the Raptors have made it out of the first round only once, in 2001 against the New York Knicks.

Amir Johnson led the fourth-seeded Raptors with 18 points off the bench.

He was part of a Raptors second unit that out-scored Toronto’s starters by a 48-38 margin. DeMar DeRozan scored 15 and added 11 rebounds and six assists.

Toronto will try to level the series when they host game two on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in the East on the opening day of the post-season, the Chicago Bulls host Central Division rivals Milwaukee.

The Bulls were ousted in five games in the first round last season by Washington.

But last year, the Bulls are hoping a healthy Derrick Rose and free-agent acquisition Pau Gasol will make a difference.

The Bulls have reached the post-season in each of the past seven years and 10 of the previous 11.

They went 50-32 in the regular season and lived up to their defensive reputation thanks to the off-season addition of Gasol.

“We have to want it more than anybody else,” Gasol said. “The resiliency that we have, we’ve got to turn it into a determination and understand that every game in the playoffs is critical.”

The Bucks are in the playoffs one season after compiling the worst record in the league.

But center Zaza Pachulia said the Bucks want to take the remarkable turnaround further.

“We haven’t accomplished anything yet,” he said. “Compared to last year, obviously there’s been a huge difference. We’ve made a lot of improvement, but we can’t be satisfied with that.”