Preseason Gameday: Raptors vs Wizards, October 6

The wait is lastly over!

It’s been 175 days because the final time the Toronto Raptors performed basketball with the draught ending tonight, because the Dinos tip-off towards the Washington Wizards in Montreal on the Bell Centre.

After the workforce held media day in Toronto on Sept. 30, the Raptors travelled to Quebec and have been holding coaching camp on the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) this previous week. Tonight’s contest places a bow on the workforce’s time in La Belle province earlier than heading to Washington.

This week’s camp marked the primary time the Raptors have ever held coaching camp in Montréal, and solely second time within the province of Quebec (Quebec Metropolis, 2019).

Tonight’s sport would be the tenth version of the NBA Canada Collection and can mark Toronto’s seventh preseason sport in Montréal all-time (2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2022).

The remainder of Toronto’s preseason schedule is right here.

Tonight, nevertheless, the Raps will welcome No.2 total decide Alex Sarr, former Raptor Jonas Valanciunas, and the remainder of the Wizards to the Bell Centre.

The 7-foot, 19-year-old Sarr was taken second total after spending final season with the Perth Wildcats within the NBL. The workforce may also characteristic two extra first-round picks in 14th total choice, Carlton “Bub” Carrington, and twenty fourth total decide in Canadian/Swiss wing Kyshawn George.

The previous fifth total decide by the Raptors in 2011, Valanciunas, may also be making an look. The 32-year-old joined Washington this previous offseason on a three-year $30-million contract.

The visiting workforce additionally options two extra former Dinos in guard Kira Lewis Jr. (2023-2024) and wing Justin Champagnie (2021-2023).

The Raptors, nevertheless, are coping with just a few accidents in the intervening time. Throughout Toronto’s open observe at McGill College on Friday, Immanuel Quickley (thumb), Scottie Barnes (private), Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder), and Bruce Brown Jr. (knee) have been all unavailable and have since all been dominated out for tonight.

No matter who’s within the lineup, preserve a watch out on the defensive facet of issues for Canada’s workforce. Ball stress and tone on that finish of the ground have been a theme all through camp, led by Toronto’s most important offseason acquisition, Davion Mitchell.

It is going to be Mitchell’s first sport in Raptors threads, as it will likely be for large man Bruno Fernando and former Detroit Piston Jared Rhoden.

Sport Data

Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. ET

Tv: TSN

Radio: Sportsnet 590 The Fan

Beginning Lineups (Projected)

Washington Wizards

PG: Jordan Poole

SG: Corey Kispert

SF: Kyle Kuzma

PF: Alexandre Sarr

C: Jonas Valanciunas

Toronto Raptors

PG: Davion Mitchell

SG: Gradey Dick

SF: RJ Barrett

PF: Ochai Agbaji

C: Jakob Poeltl

Harm Report (Not official)

Wizards

Saddiq Bey (Knee) – Out

Raptors

D.J. Carton (Ankle) – Sport time determination

Gradey Dick (Ankle) – Sport time determination

Immanuel Quickley (Thumb) – Out

Scottie Barnes (Private) – Out

Ja’Kobe Walter (Shoulder) – Out

Bruce Brown Jr. (Knee) – Out