Key Players to Watch In Raptors' Matchup Against Wizards

The Toronto Raptors will embark on their first road trip of the season starting this evening against the Washington Wizards who are coming off an opening night win of their own over the Milwaukee Bucks.

While Toronto's blowout victory over the Chicago Bulls was a great start, they will be put to the test by a Wizards team looking to defy expectations this season.

With that, here are three players on both sides that fans should be keeping an eye on tonight:

Kawhi Leonard

The 35-year-old superstar shined in his first game back in a Raptors uniform, scoring 23 points while logging six rebounds and going a perfect 11-for-11 at the free throw line. He was also a force defensively, collecting four steals and making one block. 

Leonard should be in for another strong showing given his 33-point performance against Washington last season that saw him make four steals and shoot an impressive 63.6% from beyond the arc.

Scottie Barnes

Barnes is shaping up to be an excellent all-around contributor for Toronto, averaging 18.1 points per game last year and keeping up that trajectory on Wednesday. He matched Leonard's 23 points and logged five assists.

Furthermore, the 25-year-old surpassed former Raptor Pascal Siakam in the team's all-time assists list that same night, recording 1,847 through his six-year career. Barnes will also have his sights set on boosting his case for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Jakob Poeltl

The 7-footer out of Austria had a quiet night offensively but came through with six rebounds plus a block and a steal on the other end. His size should also give him an advantage over 6'10'' Anthony Davis who he is slated to match up against tonight. 

Poeltl averaged a decent 10.7 points, seven rebounds and two assists last season, however, he missed 36 games due to a back injury. Fortunately, he developed a routine with the help of a new strength coach that should keep him healthy and on the court for a Raptors team that could still use more center depth.

Trae Young

The Wizards guard will look to break out in his first full season with the franchise after being traded mid-season last year from the Atlanta Hawks where he spent the majority of his career. 

Having recently signed a four-year, $212.8 million extension in June, Young should continue to have full command of Washington's offense. On Wednesday, he scored 20 points and tallied 13 assists in a 128-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Tre Johnson

The young guard is coming off a solid rookie season last year, averaging 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and two assists. Johnson also shot a respectable 41.9% from the field and converted on 87.4% of attempts at the line.

He only tallied eight points against Milwaukee on Wednesday, but still shot 50%. As a result, the Raptors' defense will have another thing to think about.

Anthony Davis

The veteran has struggled to find a long-term home the last couple years since he got traded from the Los Angeles Lakers. Nonetheless, he appears to be building something with Washington after scoring 34 points and tallying 12 rebounds plus two steals against the Bucks. 

It should be interesting to see how Poeltl and Davis will match up, but it will all come down to who establishes control of the glass early.