Raptors 132, Wizards 102
Q. Coming off a game last time-out where you were red hot in the first half and didn't get the ball as much in the second half, how hard is it to get back into the mental flow of things tonight, one day later?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, I mean, that's just the way the game goes sometimes. That's the way life goes. You have a great half, and the second half could be completely different, and tonight it flip-flopped, didn't do much in the first half of tonight's game and turned it on in the second. Doesn't really matter. It's our job to stay locked in the whole game no matter what.
First half, second half, whole game, no game, it's my job to be as locked in as possible for as long as I can.
Q. You had another pretty cool dunk tonight. I know back-door cuts has been an underrated aspect of your game, but is that something you're trying to develop in your game, just throwing it down when you get into the paint like that?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, yeah. Trying to be much more of a visible athlete this year. I've kind of always had it but I never showed it. So taking my chances to put that on display this year, and when you go to the rim with that kind of force, people start challenging you less and less, and a dunk is one of the most high-percentage shots you could have, so try to do it as much as possible.
Q. People say you're sneaky athletic anymore --
COREY KISPERT: No, just athletic. Thank you.
Q. How did you like being mic'd up?
COREY KISPERT: It was good. You kind of forget about it as the same goes on. Sometimes you remember I've got a mic in my pocket or in my jersey, but hopefully they got some good audio. Hopefully they got some stuff that they can use, and happy to help out.
Q. A couple times this year you've had really strong first halves, haven't done as well in the second half. What can you do to improve when they zero in on you in the second half to kind of break through?
COREY KISPERT: I mean, there's little things I can touch up here and there. Obviously making shots is a big deal. I don't think I made a shot in the second half last night. Took a few attempts. But I'm not one of the first couple options on this team, and that's been clear since the very beginning, since we started playing games. So when I got hot and I start making shots and making an impact, it's almost time for the other guys to step in and take advantage of that. The teams aren't helping off of me as much, and that gives Tyus and Jordan and Kuz chances to drive, but also when I do heat up and start making a bunch of shots, it's on me to be as aggressive as possible as much as possible, and taking advantage of that because teams tend to make really, really big adjustments when I get going. Just going to be more aggressive, even more intentional, and hunt more shots.
Q. You mentioned not being one of the primary options on this team. Wes said yesterday that you and Gaff are one of the best on the team at creating opportunities for yourself even when plays aren't necessarily run for you. How are you able to create those opportunities off regular action and not setting back screens consistently trying to get you guys open?
COREY KISPERT: Yeah, it's an art. It's an art to score without any plays being drawn for you. That's kind of the role that I've had in this league for a couple years now, and I know it's going to help me in the long run as my role grows here, as the years go on. But yeah, you have to be really sneaky. You have to screen hard. You've got to run the floor in transition, collect offensive rebounds. Little things like that help you put together big nights when you're not a focal point of the offense that we're trying to run.
I'm really proud of how I've evolved my game in that aspect. When shots are -- actions aren't kind of handed to me. It's a good things to have in your back pocket.
Q. Late in games, especially games like this where it's not particularly close, you guys on the bench, I've seen you become very animated, especially when your teammates that don't get to play as often aren't getting minutes. Why is that so important for you guys to show that love to them?
COREY KISPERT: Well, it was a short period of time, but I've been in their shoes, and I know how important those minutes are, whether it's six or three or whatever. You want to go in and you want to make an impact. Ryan had a big impact, Geno had a big impact. When you can get in and you can kind of give us a spark, it inspires us to play harder the next game. The reason those guys are in the game at that point is because the game is not very close. We could easily sit there and sulk and be in our feelings about whatever, but I've kind of decided to turn my attention off of the game that I played or replayed on to those guys getting quality minutes, and it helps you bounce back from those losses a little bit faster, and those guys need energy, too. They need life breathed into them, too, whether you're bouncing from the Wizards to the Go-Go and back and forth, not really sure about your role on your team or when you're going to play or if you're going to play. It's a hard job. It's a really hard job.
So anytime they can get in there and have an impact, it's on us to encourage and make them feel confident, and it's the hardest thing to have when you're in a role like that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports