Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Basketball
NBA
Toronto Raptors
How many wins the Raptors will post is a question only time will tell, but there's no question they're playing well and only getting better.
Get the latest from Frank Zicarelli straight to your inboxSign Up
Published Jan 27, 2026 • 4 minute read
Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors shoots over Trayce Jackson-Davis of the Golden State Warriors during a game earlier this month.
Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors shoots over Trayce Jackson-Davis of the Golden State Warriors during a game earlier this month. Getty Images
Article content
A 50-win season is well within range, a potential run of post-season appearances no longer a pipe dream, but the biggest question involves the biggest NBA prize — winning a championship.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
Good times and good vibes, not unexpectedly, hover over the franchise as it plays its first home game Wednesday night since a 4-1 trip out West, which was capped off by a victory over the reigning champions.
Article content
Article content
One can argue expectations may have risen beyond the definition of reasonable but, in this business, teams are either selling hope or wins.
One can make a case that the Raptors are checking both boxes.
A litmus test will be provided by the Knicks on Wednesday night, who come to town having played host to Sacramento on Tuesday. This is a Knicks team whose physical and mental toughness has proven too daunting for the Raptors to handle in their past two meetings this season.
Loading...
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Play Video
Some long-awaited exposure down south arrives later in the week when the Raptors are in Orlando.
Then comes a five-game homestand that will end with a visit by Detroit, one of the league’s surprise teams and one of its best feel-good stories — which ultimately will be judged by its post-season success or failure.
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
As of Tuesday, only Boston — which, similar to the Knicks, has beaten the Raptors twice — and the Pistons have better records than Toronto.
Matching last year’s 30-win total is a no-brainer given the Raptors already have won 29 games.
Elite teams often hit the 60-win mark, a description that cannot be applied to this edition.
During a five-year run, Dwane Casey helped establish an identity and foundation. Then Nick Nurse took over and helped take the Raptors over the top, with the franchise winning 50+ games, including a club-high 59 in what turned out to be Casey’s final season as head coach.
Crowning Achievement
Winning the title in 2019 was the ultimate crowning achievement as the Raptors made the playoffs for seven successive seasons. The Raptors haven’t qualified for the post-season since Scottie Barnes’ rookie season.
He was seen at WWE’s Monday Night Raw event with a championship belt emblazoned with the Raptors’ logo — a harbinger of things to come? We seriously doubt it.
Advertisement 4
Article content
The goal, however remains the same as long as Barnes is happy to be in Toronto and that is to surround him with as many quality pieces as possible.
History has shown that players, once they get their money, are motivated by winning. Winning always matters, but winning a title is what matters most.
No one is suggesting Barnes will pull a Chris Bosh and bolt, but time can be fleeting.
For now, the Raptors are rolling. Barnes’ play, especially on defence where he’s more advanced than on offence, is at its peak powers with more room to grow because of that offensive room for improvement.
Immanuel Quickley posted one of his best stretches as a Raptor, perhaps of his career, during the trip that earned him Eastern Conference player of the week.
When a team wins its final four games of a trip and when such gaudy numbers — 25.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game — are posted, individual recognition is more than deserving.
I.Q. needs to stay healthy, which he hasn’t achieved during his brief time in Toronto, and he needs to sustain a high level of play or as close to a high level as possible.
Advertisement 5
Article content
Home on a high
There’s no doubt the Raptors return home on a high. No question they’ve been playing well as a team, showing resilience and perseverance that make up the DNA of a champion.
At the same time, no ring fitting will be on the horizon.
There’s plenty of work that lies ahead, but every once in a while some kind of affirmation is demanded and the Raptors have earned it.
Knowing that so much can change and likely will change, knowing the Raptors will have that proverbial X on their back as opponents must respect them, additional improvement is in order.
Having a healthy Jakob Poeltl will make the Feb. 5 trade deadline less important considering size is one of Toronto’s needs, arguably its biggest.
Suddenly, the big man has turned into a wild card, an ongoing uncertainty until an update on the health of his back is reached — if that’s even possible.
After becoming extension eligible on Oct. 1, the Raptors and RJ Barrett could not agree on a new contract before the deadline.
Advertisement 6
Article content
Neither side has expressed any ill will or said anything in public to suggest Barrett’s time is coming to an end, but the business of basketball can turn the best intentions into unpleasant outcomes.
How does the Raptors future look?
Brandon Ingram has come as advertised, but until he plays an entire season, the health concerns won’t disappear.
To date, he has appeared in 46 games, averaging 34.1 minutes — tied for the fourth highest in his 10-year career.
During his career, Ingram has played at least 60 games four times, his most occurring in his rookie campaign in 2016-17 when he appeared in 79 games.
Read More
[Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a lay-up against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center on Jan. 21, 2026 in Sacramento, Calif.
Raptors can take big step toward relevancy by ending trip with win over reigning-champion OKC](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-can-end-monumental-trip-with-a-win-over-okc-thunder)
2. [Toronto Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Portland, Ore.
Streaking Raptors beat Portland Trail Blazers to earn third straight road win](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/streaking-raptors-beat-portland-trail-blazers-to-earn-third-straight-road-win)
Ingram has provided the Raptors with their biggest boost, a presence no metric can properly define.
The Raptors’ future does look promising.
It would be a mistake to compare them to past iterations, but encouraging signs have emerged.
Clearly, the biggest lift is to follow.
What remains to be seen is how this group handles the pressure of big games, beginning Wednesday, and how this group fares when the regular season ramps up.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments