The Washington Wizards hit the court today, facing off against the Toronto Raptors in their preseason opener at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.
The first preseason game often comes with some unpredictability due to many uncertainties.
Coach Brian Keefe recently spoke to The Athletic's Josh Robbins, stating that his player rotations are still a work in progress. This means the Wizards may be somewhat improvising during the game. The only players confirmed to be unavailable are Saddiq Bey, who is still recovering from an ACL tear, and Malcolm Brogdon, who left Montreal to return to D.C. for further tests after injuring his hand.
Similarly, the Raptors are entering a rebuilding phase this season, though they have several key players who could be pivotal going forward. Leading the charge is Scottie Barnes, fresh off signing a maximum contract extension this offseason. The Raptors also boast former New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley and forward RJ Barrett, adding depth to their roster alongside Barnes.
This matchup provides a solid early test for the Wizards, allowing them to establish a starting point as they assess which lineups are effective and identify areas for improvement ahead of their regular season opener against the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, on Oct. 24.
Toronto has always found Washington to be a convenient opponent. About 70% of the matches, or 40 out of the 58 head-to-head meetings, have seen the Canadian side win. The Raptors had greater success than the Wizards the previous season as well. In three of the four cases, Toronto prevailed.
The Canadians enjoyed considerable success in the initial part of the previous season. Toronto performed rather well, finishing in the middle of the pack, but the squad struggled all year in 2024, particularly in March. The Raptors went 15 games without winning at one time. Even twelfth place in the Eastern Conference standings is a commendable performance in light of such a collapse.
