Wizards to host Raptors in playoffs rematch as part of Opening Week on October 20

The Wizards won’t get as many national TV appearances as they did last season, but they’ll be a part of the league’s opening week festivities.

The NBA announced on Wednesday afternoon that the Wizards will host the Raptors on Saturday, October 20 at 7 pm Eastern Time that will be broadcast on NBA TV. It will be both teams’ first national TV appearance of the season.

Though this will be a rematch of their meeting in the first round of the 2018 playoffs, this game will look quite a bit different than the last time these two tangled at Capital One Arena back in late April. DeMar DeRozan and Marcin Gortat have been replaced with Kawhi Leonard and Dwight Howard, which will add an intriguing new dimension to this matchup of Eastern Conference foes.

Though the game takes place during opening week, Wizards’ Digital Media Manager Zach Rosen says the game will not be team’s season opener. Candace Buckner of The Washington Post reported earlier in the day the Wizards will likely host the Miami Heat in their season opener on Thursday, October 18.