message sent 3

PASCAL Siakam of the Toronto Raptors dunks against the Washington Wizards at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

February 15th, 12:25am February 14th, 8:08pm APArticles

TORONTO — Pascal Siakam isn’t pleased to be taking it easy over All-Star weekend and took out his frustration Wednesday night.

Siakam scored a career-high 44 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, OG Anunoby scored a career-best 22 points, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 129-120 for their sixth straight win.

“If he keeps playing like this, he’s a 2020 All-Star,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said of Siakam.

Toronto’s third-year forward was asked whether his big night was a message to those who passed him over for an All-Star spot this year.

“Take it as you want. I wish I’m going to Charlotte,” Siakam said.

Newly signed Raptors guard Jeremy Lin said he was impressed with Siakam’s diverse skill set.

“I knew he was good but tonight was something special,” Lin said. “He showed the full package tonight.”

Toronto improved to 13-3 without All-Star Kawhi Leonard, who sat for the second time in four games because of a sore left knee. Leonard also missed last Thursday’s win in Atlanta.

Toronto coach Nick Nurse said he wouldn’t mind if Leonard played in Sunday’s All-Star Game.

Serge Ibaka had 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Kyle Lowry had 14 points and 13 assists as the Raptors used a big third quarter to overcome a 12-point deficit and post their fifth straight victory over the struggling Wizards.

Bradley Beal has 28 points and 11 assists, Jeff Green scored 23 and Jabari Parker 22 as Washington lost for the fifth time in seven games.

“We’re down right now,” Brooks said. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

Down 103-93 to begin the fourth, Washington cut it to 112-111 on a three-pointer by Bobby Portis with 4:55 left. Lowry replied with a trey for Toronto, and Siakam made back-to-back baskets, putting Toronto up 119-111 at 3:44.

Toronto faced its biggest deficit, 80-68, at 8:48 of the third.

The Raptors answered with a 15-0 spurt, reclaiming the lead at 83-80 before Washington called timeout at 4:43. Siakam scored 19 points in the third, and Toronto closed the quarter on a 35-13 run, taking a 103-93 lead into the final quarter.