Toronto leaves home for the first time this season with a 135-92 rout of Chicago behind it and a day of rest in its legs. Four games in eight days follow, none on consecutive nights, and the Magic account for half of them.
Two Stops Away
The trip opens tonight in Washington. Like Toronto, the Wizards are 1-0 and coming off a day of rest, but they play at home and go again tomorrow night, while the Raptors get a day off before their next game. Washington went 17-65 last season and gave up 121.5 points per 100 possessions, so Brian Keefe's group has plenty to prove. Three of his players are out: Tristan Vukcevic (hip), AJ Dybantsa (ankle) and Jamal Watkins (knee). Felix Okpara is listed day-to-day, sick. Anthony Davis put up 20.4 points and 11.1 boards over 20 games last season, and Alex Sarr added 16.3 points a game. From there it's Minnesota on Sunday, Oct. 25, on NBA TV, which ends a two-game road swing.
Orlando, Then Orlando Again
Orlando is the opponent that shapes this week. The Magic visit Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 28 and come back on Oct. 30, with one day between the games, and the second one counts toward the NBA Cup. Orlando is 0-1 and sits tenth in the East today. Toronto, at 1-0, is fourth. Playing the same conference rival twice in three days turns the second game into a test of adjustments, and Darko Rajakovic's staff will have two full days at home to prepare after the Minnesota game. Michael Grange of Sportsnet wrote this week that the league's push toward parity means no more easy wins. Two meetings with one East team are a good early check on that idea.
Who Is Missing, Who Is Carrying
Nate Bittle, recently converted to a two-way contract, is the only Raptor listed. He is out with a foot problem and is projected back on Oct. 28, the first Magic game. Without a full rotation, the workload has moved around. Ja'Kobe Walter is averaging 33.7 minutes over his last five games, up from 21.5. RJ Barrett is playing about 10 more minutes a night and Jamal Shead about 11 more over the last three. Barnes, who talked this week about the variety in Toronto's transition attack, is the steady piece in the middle of all that. Kawhi Leonard scored 9 in his return against Chicago, and the Wizards game gives him a second run before the schedule gets heavier.
When do the Raptors play the Magic this season?
Toronto hosts Orlando on Oct. 28 and again on Oct. 30. The second game is an NBA Cup game.
Is the Raptors-Timberwolves game on national TV?
Yes. The Oct. 25 game in Minnesota airs on NBA TV.
