The Raptors will be without star forward Kawhi Leonard when they take on the Wizards, the team announced prior to tip-off. 

The team wants to rest Leonard, who played back-to-back games to open the season, as a precautionary measure of load management. 

Leonard told reporters Friday he's feeling good, but the Raptors are playing it safe since they had three games in four nights, according to TSN Sports.

Leonard is coming off a season in which he played only nine games as he battled a quad injury. He missed the first 27 before making a sporadic return, but didn't play after Jan. 13. 

The 27-year-old forward logged 73 minutes in the first two games of the season, averaging 27.5 points and 11.5 rebounds.

Toronto plays on the road against Washington with tip-off set for 7 p.m. ET.