Storylines, Where to Watch, Injuries, & Betting Info For Raptors vs. Wizards
For the first time in 600 days, the Toronto Raptors are returning home for meaningful NBA basketball and will open the 2021-22 season against the Washington Wizards at 7:30 p.m. ET.
What to Watch For
- Basketball is back! That should be enough.
- The Raptors are trying something pretty innovative this season with an über switchable roster built with these versatile 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-9 wings. They're going to struggle with their half-court offense, but everything else should be pretty exciting. If it works, the rest of the league will certainly be trying to copy Toronto's roster.
- With Pascal Siakam sidelined for about another month, it's officially the OG Anunoby show in Toronto. The 24-year-old appeared to take a step forward in the preseason, but his ability to score off the dribble will be a make-or-break skill for the Raptors at least until Siakam returns.
- The Raptors have traditionally been a hyper-aggressive defensive team under head coach Nick Nurse and that's only expected to be revved up even more this season. It should make for a very long night for Bradley Beal.
Where to Watch
TSN1 will broadcast the game on TV with the radio call on Sportsnet The FAN 590.
Injury Report
Siakam and Yuta Watanabe are both out. Chris Boucher is listed as questionable with a finger injury, but he's expected to go.
For the Wizards, Rui Hachimura, Cassius Winston, and Thomas Bryant are all out.
Betting Odds
The Raptors are -2.5 favorites on SI Sportsbook. The total for the game sits at 220.5.
Further Reading
The Raptors are trying to be at the forefront of defensive innovation with their versatile roster
Raptors Roster Rundown: what to expect from Toronto's final 17
OG Anunoby is poised to become the guy for the Raptors with Pascal Siakam out early
