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Toronto Raptors forward Terrence Ross (31) reacts during the second half of Game 3 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Washington Wizards, Friday, April 24, 2015, in Washington. The Wizards won 106-99.Alex Brandon/The Associated Press

The Toronto Raptors have been able to put together some good quarters through the three games of their first-round NBA playoff series. But unfortunately for them, the Washington Wizards have been putting together good games.

Facing the harsh reality of a possible sweep in Washington Sunday night, the Raptors could come out one of two ways tonight, down 0-3: desperate, prideful, and determined to stretch the series, or listless and forlorn, ready for it to be over. One thing is for certain though: winning tonight will require more than a strong start or an offensive explosion in one quarter. Toronto will need to play its first complete game of the series.

Meeting the media after Sunday morning's shoot-around, Wizards guard Bradley Beal said a closeout win will be the most difficult one to get.

"We have to put ourselves in those shoes and know how they're feeling," said Beal. "They're desperate, so we need to also feel like we're down 0-3. They'll come out aggressive like they did last game, and they'll probably make some adjustments, so we better be ready."

Beal applauded the video and coaching staff for putting together top-notch schemes that have allowed the Wizards to take the Raptors out of what they try to do offensively and "frustrate them as much as possible". This Washington team is one that played to a No.5 spot in the Eastern Conference and wasn't playing good basketball late in the season. Washington's turnaround is the sort of transformation many had hoped the Raptors capable of once the post-season hit and all members of their team were back on the floor together.

"It was all between our ears," explained Beal. "It's really been our approach. We're making sure we're locked into our opponent and our individual tasks."

If the Raptors hope to find a playoff lifeline, rebounding will once again be key. Toronto has been out-rebounded 151-117 in the series, and ranks last currently in that category among all playoff teams. They will need to step up in the shooting department as well. Toronto has shot 41 per cent from the field, while Washington has shot 46 per cent in the series.

No team has ever come back to win an NBA playoff series that it once trailed 3-0. On three occasions though, squads have been able to recover and stretch the series as far as a Game 7.

The Raptors chose not to have a morning shoot-around or meet the media Sunday, but had a team meeting at their hotel instead. They said everything after Saturday's practice that could possibly be uttered in such a situation.

When asked after Saturday's practice about how the team was coping, and how things had been Friday night as the team returned to its hotel after suffering a 106-99 loss, Amir Johnson chose not to dwell on the situation, but to keep it light.

"I slept fine. I had a good meal, some chicken wings. It was pretty solid," said Johnson. "I decided to have some milk and cookies which put me right out."

Still, the 0-3 series record looms.

"It's hard to ignore it to be honest," said Kyle Lowry. "We just got to go out there and try to get one game. Whatever it takes, try to get one game. We know close-out games to win a series are always the toughest games for the other team so we have to go out and make it as hard as possible."

If Toronto does find a way to win Game 4, the series would shift back to Toronto for Game 5 on Wednesday.

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