Toronto native A.J. Lawson paces 4 double-doubles for Raptors in 119-104 win over Wizards

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto native A.J. Lawson made seven 3-pointers while scoring a career-high 32 points, and he also had 12 of the Raptors' franchise-record 73 rebounds in a 119-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.

The Raptors (22-43) had four players with at least 10 rebounds in the same game for the first time in franchise history, and all had double-doubles. Their 73 rebounds are the most in the NBA this season.

Scottie Barnes had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Toronto, and RJ Barrett finished with 14 points, 10 boards and eight assists. Orlando Robinson had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Alex Sarr had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the NBA-worst Wizards (13-50), who had won their previous two games, including two nights earlier in Toronto. Jordan Poole also had 16 points while Tristan Vukcevic had 15.

Wizards: Already without veterans Khris Middleton (ankle) and Marcus Smart (right index finger), the Wizards lost starter Bilal Coulibaly with 3:36 left in the first quarter after he landed hard on the floor after being fouled on a shot. He missed a free throw, and then departed because of right hamstring tightness.

Raptors: A nice rebound for the Raptors two nights after a 118-117 loss when Jamal Shead’s running layup at the buzzer was ruled to be late after the team was already celebrating what it thought was a victory.

Barnes had a dunk and a run-ending layup as Toronto went ahead to stay with a 10-0 spurt in the first 3 1/2 minutes after halftime.

Toronto had 28 offensive rebounds, leading to 33 second-chance points.

The Wizards play at Detroit on Tuesday night. Toronto stays home to host Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

This version corrects the first paragraph to A.J. Lawson made seven 3-pointers instead of seven 7-pointers.

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, left, vies for control of the ball with Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George, right, during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) looks to get past Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George, right, during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) drives past Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George, left, during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill (16) and Toronto Raptors guard Jared Rhoden (8) vie for the ball during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Jared Rhoden (8) drives to the net while under pressure from Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr (20) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard A.J. Lawson (0) and Washington Wizards forward Tristan Vukcevic (00) collide during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Wizards forward Corey Kispert (24) rejects Toronto Raptors centre Colin Castleton (11) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard A.J. Lawson (0) celebrates after his career high after sinking a 3-point basket during second-half NBA basketball game action against the Washington Wizards in Toronto, Monday, March 10, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are opening the practice window for star linebacker Fred Warner with the hope that he could return if the team reaches the NFC title game.

Warner has been out since breaking and dislocating his right ankle in a loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 12, with coach Kyle Shanahan initially describing it as a season-ending injury.

But Warner has been rehabbing since then and even was able to run on a side field last week during practice. Now he will be back officially at practice as the 49ers prepare to play Seattle in the divisional round on Saturday night and could return if San Francisco wins.

“We’re not doing much so he’ll walk through out there with us today and things like that, but hoping he can be ready for next week,” Shanahan said Tuesday.

Warner's presence on the practice field even for a walkthrough provided an emotional lift for the 49ers.

“For someone who really set the standard here, I would do anything to play with him again this year,” defensive tackle Kalia Davis said. “We want him back out there.”

Eric Kendricks is currently manning Warner's spot at middle linebacker after backup Tatum Bethune got hurt but wasn't ready to talk about what Warner's possible return would do for the team.

“We’re aren’t going to talk about next week, right? We’ve got Seattle,” Kendricks said. “We’ve got to beat Seattle. Let’s pump our brakes. We have to beat Seattle this week. .. This is what meaningful football is all about.”

The 49ers have made it this far despite losing their top two defensive players to injuries early in the season, with defensive end Nick Bosa going down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 3 and Warner getting hurt in Week 6.

Warner has been pushing to make a return and if he can, that would provide a needed boost. But Shanahan said the final decision will be in the hands of the team doctors.

“If he feels good and tells me he’s good, I’m probably going to think he is and trust him to get out there,” Shanahan said. “But you can't always think with your heart and emotionally. So you ask doctors where he’s at, all the things that these guys have to pass, just protocols that we have in with just sprinting and jumping and things like that. He’s got to hit all those before we feel it’s safe.”

But Shanahan added that as soon as the doctors clear Warner, "obviously it’ll be zero decision on my part.”

Warner had been a first-team All-Pro three straight seasons from 2022-24 and made the squad in 2020. His 947 career tackles are the second most for the team, behind Patrick Willis’ 950, as far as records go back to 2000.

Warner had missed only one game in his eight-year career before this injury, sitting out in 2021 with a hamstring injury. He played most of last season with a broken bone in his ankle and still earned All-Pro honors.

Warner signed a three-year extension worth $63 million in the offseason, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2029 season.

In other injury news, safety Ji'Ayir Brown (hamstring) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) all would have been unable to practice had the team held a session. Receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Dee Winters (ankle), guard Dominick Puni (ankle) and defensive lineman Keion White (groin, hamstring) all would have been limited.

Shanahan also said tight end George Kittle is set to have surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon on Wednesday. Kittle went on injured reserve Tuesday and tight end Brayden Willis was signed from the practice squad.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner is carted off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)

FILE - San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) runs to the locker room after pregame warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct 12, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)