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Raptors must kick off 2026 with wins against vulnerable Atlanta Hawks

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Overall, Toronto's strength of schedule rest of season is eighth-hardest in NBA and third-hardest in conference

Published Jan 02, 2026 • 4 minute read

Zaccharie Risacher, right, of the Hawks, loses the ball as he drives against the Raptors' Brandon Ingram, left, during second quarter Emirates NBA Cup action at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Nov. 7, 2025.

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The Toronto Raptors went 43-41 in 2025. That’s a big step up from the dismal 20-63 they managed in the calendar year 2024 or even the 37-41 of 2023, but as a new year dawns, they’ll be looking for a lot more in 2026.

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Though head coach Darko Rajakovic likes to remind that his group is in Year 2 of a rebuild (a statement that’s a bit debatable, since this is his third year in charge and half of the first could fairly be considered the first stage of the rebuild, the teardown to make way for what came next), circumstances have sped things along. That includes the ideal integration of Brandon Ingram, a big-time talent who has helped unlock what otherwise would be one of the worst offences in the NBA and, perhaps more importantly, the fact that the Eastern Conference is nowhere close to as loaded as the West.

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There’s no point slowing the rebuild if it would take a full-scale disaster not to make the play-in this year, at worst, and since there’s a solid chance the Raptors could finish in the top 6 and make the playoffs outright for the first time since 2021-22. If they get there, only a New York Knicks team that has had their number and could overtake Detroit for first in the conference seem like a terrible matchup for Toronto. Anyone else could theoretically be upset if the Raptors can get fully healthy, including a 100% sound Jakob Poeltl up front.

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Toronto heads into a somewhat rare two straight home games against the Atlanta Hawks Saturday and Monday, looking to create some separation with some other teams in the East as well as to build some buffer ahead of a challenging stretch of the season. After the games against the Hawks, Toronto plays at Charlotte and then Boston — both teams have had their number this season — followed by two at home against a Philadelphia squad that is finding its form and is sitting just half a game behind Toronto for fourth. After the lone easy game of the stretch, at home against Indiana, the Raptors will host red-hot Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers before heading West to visit the Clippers, Warriors, Kings, Trail Blazers and championship favourite Thunder on a long, gruelling trip.

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Schedule will be challenging

Overall, Toronto’s strength of schedule the rest of the season is the eighth-hardest in the NBA and third-hardest in the conference with remaining opponents posting a combined .508 winning percentage so far, per tankathon.com. Toronto still has nine combined games left against the two best teams in each conference (OKC, San Antonio, Detroit and New York). Toronto is just 8-9 to this point against teams above .500 and 3-5 against teams from the Western Conference. They’ll need to prove they can handle stiffer competition moving forward.

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The Hawks might have once qualified as such, but not anymore. After getting embarrassed 138-118 at home by the Raptors to open the season, Atlanta rallied to go 13-7 the rest of October and November. It appeared the team would be a clear playoff threat. But since, the Hawks have gone 3-11 before Friday’s game in New York to sink to 10th in the conference.

The team appears to be at a crossroads. Much of the success this season has come without one-time franchise player Trae Young. Atlanta is just 2-8 with Young in the lineup (he’s hurt again and was set to miss Friday’s game, his third straight absence, though he could return for at least one of the Toronto tilts). There’s been little indication a contract extension will be agreed to between Young and the Hawks, so he could be dealt before next month’s trade deadline, opt out of his $48 million player option for 2026-27 and become a free agent this summer, or awkwardly opt in and stay a Hawk.

Jalen Johnson has stepped up as Atlanta’s new top player this season, averaging 24 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.4 assists in a point forward role that will land him his first all-star berth, but Toronto native Nickeil Alexander-Walker has probably been the team’s next-best story.

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Signed as a free agent after playing for three other teams over six years in the NBA, the former 17th overall draft pick is a leading contender for most improved player. Alexander-Walker has jumped from averaging 9.4 points per game (and never more than 12.8 for a season) to 20.3 on near career high shooting percentages. The standout defender who has been a key player for the Canadian national team is now showing he’s much more than a solid reserve.

[Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors celebrates his game-winning shot with Scottie Barnes and Ja'Kobe Walter against the Indiana Pacers.

Raptors need to take the scoring pressure off Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/need-to-take-pressure-off-brandon-ingram-and-scottie-barnes-a-raptors-must)

2. [Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray drives around Toronto Raptors forward/guard RJ Barrett, right, during first half NBA action in Toronto on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.

Raptors plagued by another poor start in loss to undermanned Nuggets](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-another-poor-start-against-nuggets)

Less than a week ago the man known as NAW matched up with reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who happens to be his cousin, and scored 30, including six three-point makes, to SGA’s 39 in a Thunder win.

It now looks like Alexander-Walker has found a home and will be a key part of Atlanta’s post-Young succession plan.

But first he’ll be a key part of Toronto’s game plan as an important stretch kicks off for the Raptors.