4 Studs and 2 Duds from Raptors' absolute demolition of Wizards in Montreal

RJ Barrett was a stud

With Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley missing the game, a noticeable absence from the two players who are supposed to drive the offense, RJ Barrett was the centerpiece to start the game. Rather than shrink from the task or look overwhelmed as the focus of the Wizards' defense (yes, they theoretically do play defense in Washington) Barrett was by far the best player on the court Sunday evening.

In just 14 minutes on the court he poured in 17 points, starting things off with a confident 3-pointer on the Raptors' first possessions and never looking back. He shot 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from deep, and chipped in a couple of rebounds and a couple of assists. The player who looked like he had hit his ceiling in New York is blossoming upon returning home to Canada, and he has parlayed a strong summer with the National Team into a strong start to the preseason.

Injuries are a dud

The reason Barrett only played 14 minutes, however, is that he was crushed on an illegal screen by Jonas Valanciunas of the Wizards and appeared to hurt his shoulder. He went back to the locker room and did not return to the game, and the Raptors said after the game they would do further testing on Monday.

The season is still weeks away and the Raptors players are dropping like flies. Bruce Brown is out for at least a few more weeks after knee surgery, while rookie Ja'Kobe Walter has not practiced yet with an AV joint sprain and Immanuel Quickley missed the preseason opener with a thumb injury. Both the thumb injury and Barrett's shoulder are expected to be short-term maladies, but for a team whose season was ravaged by injuries, it can't feel good to start this year with so many nicks and ailments.