Raptors fans should know that a No. 8 seed upsetting a No. 1 in a series is rare in the NBA. It last happened in the 2012 postseason when Chicago was knocked off by Philadelphia. That deserves an asterisk because Bulls star Derrick Rose tore his ACL in Game 1 (and was never the same).

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

By pretty much any standard, this was the greatest regular season in Raptors history. The 59 victories were a team record and second only to Houston in the NBA. That means Toronto would get a home Game 7 in any series other than an NBA Finals matchup against the Rockets. The Raptors’ plus-7.8-point differential was by far the best in the East and second only to Houston (plus-8.5). In fact, if you go by differential, Raptors-Wizards is the most lopsided first-round matchup as Toronto holds an edge of plus-7.2.

No. 8 Washington is in the postseason for the fourth time in five seasons. In each of the previous three, the Wizards won in the first round but then were stopped in the conference semifinals. They swept Toronto in the 2015 first round. That’s the only previous postseason meeting between the franchises.

Toronto is +110 to win the Eastern Conference for the first time, just behind Cleveland (+100). Those two appear on a collision course in the next round. Washington is +4000 in the East, tied for the longest odds with Miami.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards are more talented than a typical eighth seed with one of the NBA best backcourts featuring All-Stars in John Wall and Bradley Beal. They likely wouldn’t have been a No. 8 had Wall not missed two months due to knee surgery. The team has been very uneven since his return, although Wall has been sitting out the second half of a back-to-back. Ball sat Wednesday when the Wizards lost at a bad Orlando team 101-92. Had Washington won that game, as things turned out, it would have moved up to No. 7 and gotten a more advantageous first-round matchup against injury-ravaged No. 2 seed Boston.

One injury note for Washington is to valuable reserve power forward Mike Scott, who suffered an apparent concussion against the Magic. He’s questionable for Game 1. If he sits, the Wizards might play smaller lineups.

Toronto Raptors

Only three Raptors remain from the 2015 club that lost to Washington the playoffs, albeit three important players in DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas. The Raptors split the four-game season series with Washington, each team winning once on the road. The most recent meeting was March 2 in D.C., a 102-95 Raptors victory. Wall missed that game. The Toronto bench outscored Washington’s reserves 50-15. That should be a huge advantage in this series as the Raptors reserves ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring, while the Wizards are not a deep bunch – especially now that Scott could miss some time.

Injuries

Washington

Otto Porter Jr. (SF)

Out indefinitely Leg - 26 / 04 / 18

Jodie Meeks (SG)

out for season Suspension - 13 / 04 / 18

Mike Scott (PF)

Prob Sat Concussion - 12 / 04 / 18

Ian Mahinmi (C)

Prob Tues Concussion - 06 / 04 / 18

Markieff Morris (PF)

Prob Sun Illness - 01 / 04 / 18

Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)

Prob Tues Foot - 04 / 03 / 18

Tomas Satoransky (SG)

Prob Wed Head - 13 / 02 / 18

Jason Smith (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 12 / 02 / 18

Tim Frazier (PG)

Prob Thurs Nose - 11 / 02 / 18

John Wall (PG)

Prob Mon Illness - 22 / 01 / 18

Toronto

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18

Norman Powell (SF)

Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18

Lucas Nogueira (C)

Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18

CJ Miles (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18

Delon Wright (PG)

Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18

Nigel Hayes (SF)

Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18

Injuries

Washington

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Otto Porter Jr. (SF)	Out indefinitely	Leg - 26 / 04 / 18	0-1	0-1	+ -
Porter Jr. will miss the remainder of the Eastern Conference first round against the Raptors as he is undergoing a procedure to relieve the blood flow of his leg contusion.
Jodie Meeks (SG)	out for season	Suspension - 13 / 04 / 18	2-4	3-3	+ -
Meeks has been suspended 25 games for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug program. He will not be available to participate in the playoffs and the suspension will carry over into the 2018-19 season.
Mike Scott (PF)	Prob Sat	Concussion - 12 / 04 / 18	2-4	3-3	+ -
Scott has been diagnosed with a concussion but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Raptors.
Ian Mahinmi (C)	Prob Tues	Concussion - 06 / 04 / 18	4-5	5-4	+ -
Mahinmi was held out of the last game with a concussion but is likely to play Tuesday against the Celtics.
Markieff Morris (PF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 01 / 04 / 18	5-7	6-5-1	+ -
Morris has been dealing with an illness but is expected to play on Sunday against the Bulls.
Kelly Oubre Jr. (SF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 04 / 03 / 18	8-16	12-12-1	+ -
Oubre Jr. sat out the last game due to a sore left foot but is likely to play Tuesday against the Heat.
Tomas Satoransky (SG)	Prob Wed	Head - 13 / 02 / 18	14-17	14-17-1	+ -
Satoransky is dealing with a head injury but is expected to be available on Wednesday against the Knicks.
Jason Smith (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 12 / 02 / 18	14-17	14-17-1	+ -
Smith has been held out of action with an illness and it is unclear as to how much time he will miss.
Tim Frazier (PG)	Prob Thurs	Nose - 11 / 02 / 18	14-18	15-17-1	+ -
Frazier missed the last game due to a nose injury but is expected to play against the Cavaliers on Thursday.
John Wall (PG)	Prob Mon	Illness - 22 / 01 / 18	20-21	21-20-1	+ -
Wall is expected to suit up against the Mavericks on Monday despite ailing from an illness.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Thurs	Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18	2-2	2-2	+ -
VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18	3-3	2-4	+ -
Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Prob Sun	Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18	3-4	3-4	+ -
Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Sat	Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18	5-5	6-4	+ -
Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game.
Norman Powell (SF)	Ques Mon	Knee - 09 / 04 / 18	6-5	7-5	+ -
Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons.
Lucas Nogueira (C)	Ques Sat	Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18	7-5	7-6	+ -
Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jonas Valanciunas (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 18	7-5	7-6	+ -
Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic.
CJ Miles (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 21 / 03 / 18	8-12	11-10	+ -
Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday.
Delon Wright (PG)	Doub Sun	Toe - 06 / 03 / 18	13-16	15-15	+ -
Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks.
Nigel Hayes (SF)	Ques Fri	Personal - 06 / 03 / 18	13-16	15-15	+ -
Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets.

Wizards vs. Raptors Game 1 Prediction