WASHINGTON — The name of the arena has changed since the last time the Toronto Raptors visited the Washington Wizards in the playoffs.

That is not all.

Three years after getting swept by the Wizards in the first round of the playoffs — with the final two games coming at then Verizon Center — the Raptors roll into Capital One Arena on Friday night with a 2-0 edge in the best-of-seven series.

“We had some tough experiences out there [url=http://www.giantscheapstore.com/saquon-barkley-jersey-cheap]Saquon Barkley Jersey Giants[/url] , especially in the playoffs, right?” Jonas Valanciunas told the Toronto Sun after Thursday’s practice.

In 2015, the No. 5 Wizards — led by veteran Paul Pierce — pulled off a what was a mild upset of the No. 4 Raptors, closing out the series with a 31-point rout.

This time out, the No. 8 Wizards, who played a large chunk of the season without point guard John Wall, were again thought capable of upsetting the now top-seeded Raptors, but haven’t shown evidence of that.

Toronto, meanwhile, appears comfortable being the hunted and are up 2-0 in a playoff series for the first time in their history.

“A few years ago, we had to have that (underdog) mentality, that chip on our shoulder mentality, or else [url=http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/baker-mayfield-jersey]Baker Mayfield Browns Jersey[/url] ,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey told the Toronto Globe and Mail. “So we’re growing, I think our guys are developing a mental toughness that you have to have to be the favorite.”

The Raptors ensured the Wizards wouldn’t steal a game in Toronto by exploiting Washington’s defense for seven 3-pointers and 44 points in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s 130-119 victory. Washington, which trailed by as many as 23, pulled within 113-108 in fourth quarter before Toronto unleashed a 19-4 run.

DeMar DeRozan scored a career postseason-best 37 points on 14-of-23 shooting as Toronto shot 51.7 percent from the floor. Valanciunas added 19 points and 14 rebounds.

“We are shooting ourselves in the foot coming out to slow starts, allowing guys to get open threes, allowing guys to get those shots, allowing guys to get layups,” Bradley Beal told the Washington Post. “It has to be one or the other. We can’t give up 3s and layups, or we’re going to be down 20 in the first quarter.”

One bright spot for the Wizards was reserve Mike Scott, who had 20 points off the bench and was on the floor when Washington rallied.

Down 2-0, Washington coach Scott Brooks may opt to go with the 6-foot-8 Scott in place of 6-11 Marcin Gortat, who has struggled at both ends thus far.

“When we go small, Mike’s a guy that can shoot from the 3 [url=http://www.authenticsnewyorkjets.com/cheap-sam-darnold-jersey]Sam Darnold Color Rush Jersey[/url] , and then they switch smalls on him, he can definitely score in the post,” Wall said.

The move could increase the inside advantage for a Toronto team that outrebounded Washington 48-34 in Game 2.

The Wizards could also use more offense from Beal, who is 11 of 28 in two games.

“That’s a little bit on him, a little bit on me, a little bit on John (Wall). We need him,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks told the Globe and Mail. “We’re going to have trouble beating this team if he’s not going to play better. And he will.”

Washington did not enjoy a strong home-court advantage this season, posting a 23-18 record at Capital One Arena, but Casey is ready for the worst.

“It’s going to be a hostile environment,” Casey told the Globe and Mail. “They’re going to be playing in a desperate mode, we’ve got to continue to be hungry, we’ve got to continue to go in with a fighter’s mentality to start the game as we did at home.”

LeBron James made the first move. Now what?

Cleveland? Los Angeles? Philadelphia? A surprise?

Stay tuned. Decision III is this summer’s blockbuster, and it’s coming soon.

James told the Cavaliers that he is not exercising his $35.6 million contract option for next season and will become an unrestricted free agent [url=http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-logan-paulsen-jersey]http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-logan-paulsen-jersey[/url] , two people familiar with the decision told the Associated Press.

The decision to decline the option for 2018-19 was expected by James because it gives him more options, which includes him re-signing with the Cavs, who can offer him the most money – a five-year, $209 million contract. James can also sign a short-term deal with Cleveland, something he has done each year since returning in 2014.

James had until 11:59 p.m. to express his intentions to the Cavs and his agent Rich Paul informed the team in the morning.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The deadline for Kevin Durant to opt into his contract with the Warriors for next season passed without him doing so, making the two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP a free agent – yet his intention has always been to stay put and re-sign with Golden State.

Much like a year ago, Durant declined to opt in for the second year of his deal, allowing him to work on a more lucrative contract once the signing period begins Saturday night.

Durant only had to inform the Warriors if he planned to opt in, and the team had long been prepared for this move – merely a procedural decision – knowing his plans for months.

The 29-year-old Durant could sign for as many as four years and about $160 million. He has made clear all along his commitment to the Warriors, especially after winning a pair of championships in his first two seasons with Golden State.

DALLAS (AP) – The Dallas Mavericks are making another run at DeAndre Jordan, three years after the center jilted them in free agency to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jordan has opted out of the final year of that contract he signed with LA in 2015, and the Mavericks intend to pursue him as an unrestricted free agent [url=http://www.jetsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-chris-herndon-jersey]http://www.jetsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-chris-herndon-jersey[/url] , a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

Dallas also intends to decline the $5 million club option on Dirk Nowitzki’s contract and re-sign him once its salary structure is more settled, the person told the AP. The move on Nowitzki is designed to create more room under the salary cap, as were the decisions to rescind qualifying offers to shooting guard Doug McDermott and center Salah Mejri, making both unrestricted free agents.

NHL

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) – When Barry Trotz resigned, the Washington Capitals didn’t even bother with a coaching search.[img]http://www.sndpic.com//nike_nfl_jerseys/nike_denver_broncos/nike_broncos_633.jpg[/img]

There was only one candidate and he got the job.

Top assistant Todd Reirden will take over the Stanley Cup-champion Capitals, promoted from the bench in a move that allows Washington to maintain a sense of continuity. Reirden coached the defensemen the past four seasons, was a finalist for another NHL head job two years ago, earned a promotion to associate coach and played a substantial role in the first championship in franchise history.

Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan hopes promoting Reirden from within will allow the team to ”transition seamlessly into next season and beyond.”

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) – Defenseman Drew Doughty has agreed to an eight-year, $88 million contract extension through the 2026-27 season to stay with the Los Angeles Kings.

After cracking the Kings’ roster as an 18-year-old, Doughty has been among the NHL’s top defensemen throughout a 10-year career spent entirely with the Kings.

He won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman in 2016. As an aggressive, skilled two-way blueliner [url=http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-johnny-townsend-jersey]http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-johnny-townsend-jersey[/url] , he has been a finalist for the award in three other seasons – including 2017-18, when he scored a career-high 60 points while playing in all 82 games for the fourth consecutive season.

Doughty played a major role in the Kings’ Stanley Cup triumphs in 2012 and 2014, and he also has two Olympic gold medals from playing for Canada.

GOLF

POTOMAC, Md. (AP) – Beau Hossler has been hanging around the lead on the weekend in search of his first PGA Tour victory, and he gets another chance at the Quicken Loans National.

So does Tiger Woods.

Hossler, the 23-year-old in his first full year on the tour, birdied four of his last five holes and finished with a 35-foot birdie putt on No. 18 for a 4-under 66, giving him a share of the lead with Ryan Armour and Brian Gay.

Armour (65) and Gay (64) each made short birdies on the par-3 ninth hole to finish their rounds and tie for lead.

Woods finished a steamy morning on the TPC Potomac at Avenel with two pars that felt just as big. On a day in which he made seven birdies – all but two of them from 15 feet or longer – Woods didn’t let a good round go to waste at the end. He saved par from the bunker on the eighth and ninths holes for a 65.

KILDEER, Ill. (AP) – Lydia Ko birdied the first hole and just kept rolling from there – all the way into contention for another major victory.

Ko shot a 6-under 66 in the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship to move two strokes off the lead. The 21-year-old New Zealander shook off an opening 74 at Kemper Lakes to reach 4 under and give herself a shot to win her third major.

First-round leader Sung Hyun Park (72), 2016 winner Brooke Henderson (71) and So Yeon Ryu (69) were tied for the lead at 6-under 138. Carlota Ciganda (69) was one stroke back, with Ko, Moriya Jutanugarn (72) and Annie Park (69) at 4 under in the third of the LPGA Tour’s five majors.

Michelle Wie (74) was 1 ove.