WASHINGTON -- John Wall is looking forward to seeing Drake in Toronto after the Wizards star said the rapper told him that the Raptors would sweep Washington in their playoff series.
Before Toronto went into Washington with a 2-0 series lead, Wall said he told his good friend to come down for Game 3. That's when Wall said Drake talked more trash to him. The best-of-seven first-round series is now tied after the Wizards won two straight in Washington.
"Yeah, you know I am. For sure," Wall said when asked if he is looking forward to seeing Drake now that the Wizards have evened the series as it shifts back to Toronto. "I told him to be here for Game 3. He told me he was going to be here. He didn't show up. He told me we were getting swept. He said he had the broom for us."
Drake, who is a global ambassador for the Raptors, has talked smack to several Wizards players from his courtside seat. Wall and Drake have engaged in friendly trash-talking on social media and during the first two games in Toronto.
"My reaction is, we did what we were supposed to do; we came home and won two games," Wall said of his response to Drake's sweep comment. "My arguments with him ain't really about the game of basketball -- we just be out there having fun. But at the same time, we [have] a focus that we are trying to go in there and win Game 5. I want him to know that they weren't going to sweep us."
After winning Game 3 122-103, Wall made sure the series went back to Toronto tied by carrying the Wizards late in Sunday's 106-98 Game 4 victory.
After Wizards star guard Bradley Beal fouled out with just under five minutes remaining, Wall scored eight of his 27 points in the last 3:50, outscoring the Raptors 8-6 during that stretch. He also helped hold DeMar DeRozan (35 points) and Kyle Lowry (19 points) to a combined four points during the last five minutes of the game.
Wall, playing in only his eighth game after undergoing knee surgery earlier this season, made or assisted on the final seven Wizards field goals and scored or assisted on 18 of Washington's final 23 points, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
"We know what we can do to beat this team," said Wall, who also dished out 14 assists. "We know what we got to do to stop this team."
When asked if he can listen to Drake's music right now, Wall replied, "No."
Washington's game operations poked lighthearted fun at Drake often during breaks in the game on the big screen during the last two home games with comical pictures and bits playing off the rapper.
Besides jawing with his friend Wall, Drake also called Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. "a bum" in a moment that went viral during Game 2. Oubre, though, also considers the rapper a friend.
"That's my guy though," the Wizards forward said with a smile after Game 2. "I see him in the summertime all the time ... we pretty much run the streets of L.A. together, on the A-list tip, not in the 'hood way. He is a great rapper ... I have no beef with him."