NBA playoffs 2018: Tensions between Wizards, Raptors run high in Game 3

Gabe Fernandez

NBA playoffs 2018: Tensions between Wizards, Raptors run high in Game 3 image

"There's no love lost."

"These teams REALLY don't like each other."

"An old-fashioned slobberknocker."

All of these cliches could be used to describe a chippy Game 3 of the Raptors-Wizards NBA playoff series.

Hostilities started less than three minutes into the first quarter Friday when the Wizards' Markieff Morris hit the Raptors' OG Anunoby with a shoulder and the rookie responded with a hard shove.

Both players received a technical foul, and Anunoby was also given a common foul for pulling Morris to the floor. 

MORE: Heat's Winslow fined for stomping on Embiid's goggles

Later in the first half, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry was given a flagrant foul after appearing to hit Wizards guard Bradley Beal on the head while going for a block. Beal got up quickly after the initial contact and angrily ran over to the referee, but nothing appeared to come from that.

Things really heated up in the third quarter.

When all was said and done, Beal, John Wall and Serge Ibaka all received technical fouls.

A couple questions remain after this incident:

Should Jonas Valanciunas have been given a foul for playing keepaway from Beal? What did Wall say to Ibaka in the scrum that caused the big man to react like that?

In the end, the Wizards turned the skirmish to their advantage and rattled off an 8-0 run shortly thereafter. They ended the third quarter leading by 19 points — a lead they carried until the final buzzer for a 122-103 victory.

There was a lot of talk after the game about the bad blood.

Wizards guard Kelly Oubre Jr. praised Morris for his toughness.

Morris talked about the importance of being physical.

Wall discussed being a good teammate.

Raptors guard Delon Wright said the chippiness is part of what playoff basketball is all about — as did Beal.

Gabe Fernandez