Raptors visit Wizards on Friday night: two 1-0 teams meet in D.C.
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- The Toronto Raptors play the Washington Wizards on Friday, Oct 23, at 7:00 PM ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
- Both teams won their season openers and start 1-0. Toronto beat Chicago by 43 points; Washington beat Milwaukee behind 34 points from Anthony Davis.
- Toronto has won seven of the last 10 games between the two teams. The Raptors are 8.5-point favorites, according to theScore.
The Toronto Raptors visit the Washington Wizards on Friday night. The game tips off at 7:00 PM ET on October 23 at Capital One Arena. Both teams won their first game of the new season.
This matchup will show which hot start is real.
What happened
Toronto crushed the Chicago Bulls 135-92 in its opener, according to Sportsgambler. The 43-point win came at home at Scotiabank Arena. Three Raptors each scored 23 points.
Those three were Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and Immanuel Quickley. It was a total team effort.
The Raptors made a big move this offseason. They brought Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto. Leonard won an NBA title with the Raptors in 2019.
He also won Finals MVP that year, according to Bullets Forever. He is now expected to lead a playoff team again.
Washington beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-116 in its opener. The game was at Capital One Arena. Anthony Davis was the star.
He scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. That tied the team record for points in a Wizards debut. The team shared the news on its official X account.
Davis was not alone. Trae Young had 20 points and 13 assists, Sportsgambler reported. Kyshawn George added 18 points.
The Wizards struggled for three quarters. Then they took over in the fourth quarter on both ends of the floor.
One number tells the Wizards' story. They shot only 21 percent from three-point range, according to Bullets Forever. They still won by 12 points.
How did they win? They scored 70 points in the paint. They also shot 41 free throws.
Why it matters
The winner of this game starts 2-0. The loser drops to 1-1. Early in a long season, that matters.
A 2-0 start builds belief in the locker room. A loss can raise questions fast.
History favors Toronto. The Raptors have won seven of the past 10 games between these teams, according to Sportsgambler.
The last meeting was at Capital One Arena on February 28, 2026. Toronto won 134-125, according to theScore.
Toronto's opener sent a message. Scoring 135 points while holding Chicago to 92 is rare. The defense looked sharp.
The offense looked deep. Three players sharing the scoring load is a good sign.
Washington's opener raised a question. Can a team win all season by missing threes? Twenty-one percent from deep is very low.
The Wizards must shoot better against a strong Toronto defense. Bullets Forever flags this as the key area to watch.
Injuries matter too. Washington is missing rookie AJ Dybantsa with an ankle sprain. Tristan Vukcevic is out with a hip injury.
Jamir Watkins is out with a knee injury. Felix Okpara is questionable with an illness. Toronto is missing Nate Bittle with a foot injury, according to Bullets Forever.
The oddsmakers like the visitors. Toronto is an 8.5-point favorite, according to theScore.
The total is set at 236.5 points. That suggests a fast, high-scoring game.
What happens next
The game is Friday at 7:00 PM ET. Fans in Washington can watch on Monumental Sports Network, according to Bullets Forever. The game is also on NBA League Pass.
Toronto fans can watch on Sportsnet. It is the Raptors' first road trip of the season.
Three things will decide this game. First, can Washington hit its threes? The team shot 21 percent in the opener.
A repeat of that will be hard to survive. Second, can Toronto stop Davis inside? He scored 34 points with 12 rebounds in his debut.
He will attack the paint again.
Third, watch the battle of the stars. Scottie Barnes scored 23 points in the opener for Toronto. Leonard added 23 of his own.
Trae Young ran the Wizards' offense with 13 assists. The team whose stars play better will likely win.
For fans new to the NBA, this is a fun early-season test. Two unbeaten teams. Two different styles.
Toronto's balanced attack meets Washington's size inside. The result will shape the early Eastern Conference picture.
Want to catch more of the 2026-27 NBA season? Our viewing guide has the full schedule. And opening night already brought big results across the league.
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