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You’d have to go back to 2022-23, when Toronto went 6-4 to close to claim the Eastern Conference’s final play-in spot, for late-March, early-April Raptors games to have any impact on anything beyond the chase for lottery balls.
Published Mar 26, 2026 • 3 minute read
RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors takes a shot against Brook Lopez of the LA Clippers.
RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors takes a shot against Brook Lopez of the LA Clippers. Getty Images
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It has been a while since the final 10 games of a Toronto Raptors season had meaning.
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That wasn’t the case a year ago when there was nothing to play for down the stretch and three of four starters didn’t even suit up most of the time.
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Nor in 2023-24, when nearly every key player was injured and only one participant from opening night, Gradey Dick, also suited up for the finale.
You’d have to go back to 2022-23 — when Toronto went 6-4 to close to claim the Eastern Conference’s final play-in spot — for late March, early April Raptors games to have any impact on anything beyond the chase for lottery balls.
The franchise hasn’t claimed an outright playoff spot since 2021-22, but by this point that year they already had locked in a post-season berth even before an unexpected 8-2 final 10 games (which mattered little when those Raptors fell behind Philadelphia 3-0 in the first round, eventually losing in six games).
Back in October it wasn’t clear what this group of Raptors were capable of and, it’s fair to admit, we probably still don’t know for sure.
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If healthy — starting point guard Immanuel Quickley’s ailing foot has to be a major concern there (Plantar Fasciitis can be extremely tricky and even when played through, can limit lateral quickness and on-court comfort — Toronto has a leg up on its opponents in terms of claiming a playoff spot and avoiding the play-in slog.
But more likely this will be a dogfight until the regular-season closer three Sundays from now.
WHERE THEY STAND
Toronto entered Thursday in sixth place, good for a spot in the post-season (and a likely matchup with either Boston or New York, who entered the day separated by only half a game). It looks like Detroit will withstand MVP candidate Cade Cunningham’s injury and hang on to first in the conference.
Cleveland seems locked in to fourth, four games ahead of Atlanta and 4.5 in front of Toronto. The Raptors would start in Cleveland if they can get to fifth, but the Hawks are on a massive roll (though their schedule is about to get a lot more difficult).
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The margins are razor-thin. The Raptors own the tie-breaker over Atlanta should they finish with identical records.
A Toronto home loss Friday against New Orleans — in a game that should be interesting given Dejounte Murray’s actions toward Jamal Shead in the previous meeting and the lack of follow-up by the Maple Leafs-like Raptors — would move the idle Sixers ahead of the Raptors (because Philadelphia owns the tiebreaker over Toronto).
The Sixers just got Joel Embiid and Paul George back and top player Tyrese Maxey is getting closer to returning from injury.
Miami entered Thursday just 1.5 games back of Toronto and the teams will play twice in the next two weeks (the Raptors are 2-0 against Miami this season, so a split of the final two would give them the tie-breaker over the Heat).
Streaking Charlotte and slipping Orlando were each two back, with the Hornets having a tough matchup Thursday against New York and the Magic an easy one against awful Sacramento. Everyone else in the East is out of the race.
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KEY REMAINING GAMES
A number of potentially crucial games remain in the battles for the East’s final two playoff and four play-in spots.
These include:
Philadelphia at Charlotte Saturday (winner gets tie-breaker).
Orlando at Toronto Sunday (Raptors must take advantage of scuffling squad).
Philadelphia at Miami Monday (winner gets tie-breaker).
Miami at Toronto April 7 (first of two key meetings).
Miami at Toronto April 9 (it’s possible things will be decided by this point, but probably not).
Atlanta at Miami April 12 (final day of regular season).
Brooklyn at Toronto April 12 (the schedule-maker gifts Raptors NBA’s second-worst team for their last game).
WHAT IS THE RAPTORS PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE?
Toronto has some players who have faced the bright lights of the playoffs, but overall are less experienced than most of the other teams in the middle of the conference.
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2. [Team Payton's Scottie Barnes, right, of the Toronto Raptors, controls the ball against Team Barry's Cade Cunningham, of the Detroit Pistons, during a semifinal of the NBA basketball Rising Stars event, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Cleveland.
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Garrett Temple — who doesn’t really play at this point — has 31 career playoff games, Jakob Poeltl 22, RJ Barrett 16, newcomer Markelle Fultz 15, Quickley 13, Brandon Ingram 10, Scottie Barnes just four.
Non-rotation members A.J. Lawson and Trayce Jackson-Davis have 10 and nine post-season games played, respectively.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, Jamison Battle, Gradey Dick, Jonathan Mogbo and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles have never been to the playoffs.
@WolstatSun
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