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[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto Raptors vs. Portland Trailblazers: Time to reverse the fourth quarter faux pas

Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images

Despite a double-digit lead in their last matchup, Toronto faltered in the final frame. Now, they have the opportunity to shore up the defence and take one back.

The Raptors will play host to Portland for their second and final matchup of the season tonight, the first of a back-to-back home stand. The last time out, the Blazers were able to fight back from a deficit and gain the lead in the final two minutes of the game. Despite the loss, the Raptors had five players in double figures.

By the looks of it, Barnes and Poeltl, two of the strongest performers in the first outing won’t be available tonight, so the onus will fall to the Raptors who touch the court to pick up the slack. It would be no surprise to anyone if RJ is one of the guys to step up. After resting on Tuesday against the Bulls, he will be looking to add to his 31-point performance on Sunday vs. Philadelphia. Hopefully he will continue to prove his scoring, passing, and defensive abilities tonight.

Shead has also been a pivotal player, averaging almost 10-3-5 in March, earning him a nomination for the East Conference Rookie of the Month. His ability to facilitate the offence has been solid so far this year, and he could also be a difference maker in this game.

The Blazers will also be missing a significant amount of talent, with many of the same players on the bench as the first game. This time, Anfernee Simons also may not be available, who led all scorers with 22 points. They will have to look to Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija who both managed 30+ point performances on Tuesday. A positive note we might expect is a little bit more of Dalano Banton. When Portland hosted the Raptors a couple weeks ago, Banton only saw 4 minutes of action. He posted a solid 11-7-5 against the Hawks on Tuesday though, laying the groundwork for an opportunity against his former team tonight.

The key to this matchup for the Raptors will be to force the Blazers to make mistakes and limit their own in the fourth quarter. Forcing 20 turnovers and drawing 20 fouls the last time, Toronto was able to gain extra possessions that helped them build their initial lead. Unfortunately, they developed their own bad habits, especially in the final frame. Shoring up their ball movement and limiting defensive lapses will prevent any opportunity for Portland to make their way back into this game.

While already eliminated from playoff contention, they will continue to use their final games of the season to build chemistry and provide opportunities for the rookies and bench to develop. With excellent performances from Shead, Walter, Mogbo, and Battle lately, it’s exciting to see how the future of the team continues to develop.

Where to Watch

On TSN at 7:30 pm ET.

Probable Starters

Toronto: RJ Barrett, Ja’Kobe Walter, Orlando Robinson, Jamal Shead, Ochai Agbaji

Portland: Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe, Deni Avdija, Dalano Banton, Toumani Camara

Injury Report

Toronto: Scottie Barnes (Questionable: Joint contusion), Ulrich Chomche (Out: MCL tear), Gradey Dick (Out: Bone bruise), Brandon Ingram (Out: Ankle sprain), Jakob Poeltl (Out: Rest), Immanuel Quickley (Out: Rest), Jared Rhoden (Questionable: Joint sprain)

Portland: Deandre Ayton (Out: Calf strain), Sidy Cissoko (Out: Ankle sprain), Jerami Grant (Doubtful: Knee inflammation), Scoot Henderson (Out: Concussion protocol), Bryce McGowens (Out: Rib fracture), Anfernee Simons (Questionable: Forearm contusion), Robert Williams III (Out: Injury management).

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/2025/4/3/...s-time-to-reverse-the-fourth-quarter-faux-pas

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors fall 112-103 to the Blazers as several Canadians shine

Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images

Sharpe, Barrett, Lawson, and Banton showed how bright the future is for Canadian basketball as Portland came away with the play-in-boosting victory.

It was 2010s night at Scotiabank Arena. However, a Canadian basketball game broke out.

The visiting Portland Trailblazers defeated the Toronto Raptors, 112-103, as a plethora of Canadians took over the scoreboard.

The Blazers were led by London native, Shaedon Sharpe, who broke the record for most points scored by a Canadian against the Raptors, with 36 points. Former Raptor, and Torontonian, Dalano Banton scored 21 points. Toronto was led by Mississauga native, RJ Barrett, who returned after resting in the previous game, with 18 points. AJ Lawson, who was born in Brampton, had 13 points off the bench.

Sharpe’s 36 points are the 3rd-highest in any game by a Canadian. The top two performances, 39 and 37 points, were both produced by Barrett, of course.

From the non-Canadian department, Deni Avdija had 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists for a Portland squad still fighting for a play-in spot in the West. Ochai Agbaji, who also missed the last game for rest, led all reserves with 15 points.

The Toronto Raptors continued their season-long tribute of the 30th anniversary by celebrating the 2010s. Terrence Ross was in attendance and received a loud ovation during a timeout. Leo Rautins and Paul Jones were also recognized with video tributes.

In the pre-game pressers, both Head Coaches, Chauncey Billups and Darko Rajakovic spoke about the importance of pressuring the ball early.

“It’s disruptive. If you ask any opposing player....nobody likes to play against that type of defense,” said Rajakovic. “It does not allow teams to get into their offensive sets easily.”

When asked about higher pickup points on the defensive end, Billups replied, “I love it. If you’re gonna be that young, why not play full court?”

Ball pressure was evident throughout the first quarter. Avdija picked off two passes by Jonathan Mogbo. Jamal Shead stole from Banton as he crossed halfcourt. After a Mogbo bucket, the Raptors applied full-court pressure on the inbounds pass, leading to a five-second violation.

Barrett blocked a layup attempt by Banton from behind, eventually leading to a Ja’Kobe Walter three-pointer. On the next possession, Barrett forced Banton into a turnover, leading to a Shead steal and Barrett putback layup off a Shead miss. The Toronto-on-Toronto crimes were rampant!

AND ONEEEE pic.twitter.com/hbQgs3uC6a

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 4, 2025​

While Toronto spread the scoring wealth with nine different Raptors scoring in the first quarter, almost all of Portland’s offense came from two players. Sharpe and Deni Avdija combined for 25 of Portland’s 29 first-quarter points.

Portland was without a starting lineup worth of talent as Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, DeAndre Ayton, and Robert Williams were all inactive. For Toronto, Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley were given the night off, joining the injured Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick on the sidelines.

The Blazers entered the game only 3 games back of the Sacramento Kings for the final play-in spot in the West.

Picking up ballhandlers well beyond the three-point line was an ongoing theme. Lawson broke up a dribble handoff between Avdija and Donovan Clingan, leading to a breakaway dunk for AJ.

Barrett must’ve had five deflections in the first half. He poked another ball free that was scooped up by Barnes and led to a fastbreak layup for RJ.

Scottie Barnes has passed O.G. Anunoby for 11th on the Toronto Raptors’ all-time scoring list. pic.twitter.com/HRF5urvBYh

— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) April 4, 2025​

With both teams applying a ton of ball pressure, combined with the depleted lineups on both sides, the following tweet makes a whole lot of sense.

26 combined turnovers in the first half of Raptors-Blazers. There are 5.5 games left, in case you were wondering.

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 4, 2025​

Three of the four leading scorers from the first half were born in the Greater Toronto Area. Sharpe had 20 points. Barrett led Toronto with 12, while Lawson led all reserves with 9. Avdija did not score in the second quarter and finished the half with 14.

At halftime, the Raptors led the Blazers in transition points (+5), steals (+4), and points in the paint (+10). Yet, with only a 50-47 lead, it felt like Toronto left too much on the table.

Both teams exchanged the lead throughout the first few minutes of the second half. When Barnes and Barrett went to the bench, Portland took control of a tight game, turning a tie game into a 6-point advantage.

The Sharpe and Avdija show continued in the third quarter. This time, they brought Dalano Banton along for the ride. The trio outscored the Raptors 29-26 as Portland entered the final frame with an 83-76 lead.

Portland carried the momentum from the third quarter into the first few minutes of the fourth. With the Raptors unable to cut into Portland’s lead — and Scottie Barnes absent on both ends of the floor — Darko called timeout with 7:33 left and a 94-85 deficit. As has been the case for the last month, the core players (Barnes and Barrett tonight) took to the bench for the evening. Billups kept his starters on the floor, ensuring Toronto’s reserves couldn’t cut into Portland’s lead.

Another Deni masterclass ‍

26 PTS
15 REB
6 AST
2 STL
2 BLK pic.twitter.com/s9alU8ginX

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 4, 2025​

With the loss, Toronto “clinched” a worse record than the Blazers and can drop no further than 8th in the reverse standings. Considering the consistent losing by the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, the only place the Raptors could conceivably move is from 7th to 8th. However, consecutive losses by Toronto combined with last night’s Spurs win over the Denver Nuggets means the Raptors’ Flagg-ic number is now only two. Any combination of two Raptors losses or Spurs wins will clinch 7th spot in the draft lottery standings for Toronto. With the 2nd game of a back-to-back against the 5th-place(!!) Detroit Pistons tomorrow and a couple more games still to play, the Raptors likely don’t need to wait until the final game of the season — in San Antonio — to finalize their spot in the draft lottery.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: enjoy these final games of the season. It may be a long time (ideally) before the Raptors are playing meaningless games again. The growth of the young players provides a glimpse into the bright future of this roster, while the losses provide hope for a huge talent to join the squad!

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/2025/4/3/...tland-trailblazers-shaedon-sharpe-deni-avdija

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Toronto Raptors may have drafted their next big superstar

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

When the Toronto Raptors picked Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo and Ulrich Chomche in the 2024 NBA Draft, they may have secured the franchise’s next superstar.

As Darko Rajakovic sat in front of the media ahead of the Toronto Raptors’ penultimate home game of the 2024-2025 season, the list of core players sitting out against the Detroit Pistons was long. RJ Barrett resting, Scottie Barnes with a hand injury, Gradey Dick still battling his bruised knee bone. When Darko was asked who would step up to the plate tonight, his answer was not much different than it has been most of the season: the young guys.

The Raptors headed into the 2024 draft with just one pick after having to give their lottery pick to the San Antonio Spurs. That 19th overall pick ended up turning into four picks total as Toronto traded for the 31st, 45th, and 57th. Those turned into Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamal Shead and Ulrich Chomche.

Chomche was the most raw player of the group, playing most of his season with the Raptors 905 before suffering a knee injury that ended his season. Mogbo has also played less than expected due to some injury, but ended up starting multiple times due to injuries other players were suffering from.

Despite starting the season with a shoulder injury, Ja’Kobe Walter seemed to make a good recovery. He has made some circus-level entertaining shots this season and hustled hard to prove his worth. As a first round draft pick, the expectation that Walter would get some solid playing time on a tanking team was pretty high, and he has stepped up.

That leaves Jamal Shead — maybe the most intriguing draft pick of the Raptors’ four choices. The point guard out of Houston immediately gave off strong Fred VanVleet vibes: shorter point guard, solid defender, can shoot. He got to Toronto and pretty immediately had a loyal following of fans, the “SheadHeads.”

Friday night, as the Raptors fell 117-105 to the Detroit Pistons, Shead scored 14 points, 9 assists and 1 rebounds on 5-12 shooting from the field. He also had 2 steals.

The defence has been the most well-rounded part of Shead’s game in his rookie season. He can guard the perimeter pretty well — something appreciated in Darko’s defensive-minded system. He’s got the start eight times this season, played in 71 games (so most of them) and was easily able to crack the rotation as a rookie. Even as Davion Mitchell was still around and the Raptors technical “back up point guard,” Jamal Shead was getting minutes ahead of him.

This season, Jamal Shead is:
- 4th in the NBA in assists off the bench (219)
- 3rd among rookies in assists (243)
- 3rd among rookies in points created via assist (9.8)
- leading the Raptors in games played (64) https://t.co/eeKFOwlBDO

— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) March 21, 2025​

Shead has shot 41.1% from the field and 33% from three as a rookie, not terrible but room for improvement. He has 4.0 assists per game this season as well, showing a keen eye for playmaking. Per Keerthika Uthayakumar, he has achieved many league-wide accolades including most games played on the Raptors team this season. He has a shot of getting an All-Rookie Team nod once those awards are handed out as well.

Yet, does Shead have the potential to become the Toronto Raptors next big star project? Well, let’s compare him to Fred VanVleet once more — Shead was drafted 45th overall while VanVleet went undrafted, and was still able to rise to stardom. Of course the Championship run of 2019 helped, but that meant VanVleet did not get as much playing time in the NBA (only 37 games) as a rookie as Jamal did.

Jamal Shead took VanVleet’s #23 for a reason, and he will have more chance to develop into a role player (possibly beyond) for this team this summer and fall. The Raptors are planning another summer of team practicing and bonding — last summer the team held camps in Spain and coaches travelled to meet up with players for training. This summer will be even more free, as there are no Olympic Games and players will have more free time.

When it comes to the Raptors’ upcoming lottery pick, they are more likely to pick a taller shooting guard, forward, or center option. This is mostly based on the players project around No. 7 (where the Raptors are currently sitting odds-wise). Currently the projected 6th-9th picks are all bigger players.

From there they will head into next season with their starting lineup of Immanuel Quickley, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl intact (hopefully). They will also have a lottery pick (hopefully) and Shead will likely become Quickley’s back up guard as he plays his second NBA season. Based on the progress he has made this season, Shead has a path to become a long term option for the Toronto Raptors.

His assisting and playmaking are developing well, especially when you look at the stats Uthayakumar listed above. He also has a defensive rating of 117.6 — 2nd on the Raptors among players who have played 50+ games this season, behind Jamison Battle, per stat muse.

He also has a great personality and is loved by fans. When he was drafted, a video went around of Shead that showed him picking up the garbage after one of his college teammates kicked over a trash can in anger. He has continued to show off that personality through his rookie season, forming relationships with Ja’Kobe Walter and his other teammates.

"ACTIVE HANDS!"- From their best Darko impersonations to the one rookie thing CB made Jamal do. Here are a few minutes of the carpool I did with Raps rookies Shead and Walter we haven't aired yet:https://t.co/qJOXwgckfg https://t.co/MGJgJtzW17 pic.twitter.com/7sjli5VsZw

— Lindsay Dunn (@LindsayDunnTV) April 3, 2025​

All of this is the ground work needed for Shead to continue to thrive. The more he plays well, the more fans will root for him. The better he plays in the minutes he is given, the more he will be used in times that the Raptors need him. Plus, should the time ever come that Quickley is moved somewhere (you never know) hopefully it’s at a point where Jamal Shead could step.

So the Toronto Raptors may have drafted their next big star in Jamal Shead.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/2025/4/4/24401485/toronto-raptors-draft-prospects-jamal-shead-rookies

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets: Time to get an April win

Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images

With four games left of the season, the Raptors look to win their first game in the calendar month

The Toronto Raptors are on the road, going toe to toe with Brooklyn Nets for a matinee game. So far, the Raptors are 2-1 against the Nets, with this being their fourth and final matchup of the season. All but locked into seventh-best draft odds, we’ve reached the point in the season where the tanking conversation can end, and we can focus on some feel-good wins.

For Brooklyn, the season has shaped up to be what most expected. After being active in the trade market and re-tooling their roster, a cascade of injuries to their young talent wrote the rest of the season off. They have a bright future, with Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, and Nic Claxton all able to contribute to a winning team. Reality is that they’re likely still years away from that, though.

With both benches loaded with injuries, this will be another game that will utilize the both teams’ bench and rookie talents.

For the Raptors, Ja’Kobe is coming off a 22-point team-high performance against the Pistons on Friday. He continues to impress with his quick and accurate midrange shots and efficiency from deep that help drive the offence. Many of his shots were on dimes from Jamal Shead who had 9 assists in that game, as their chemistry on the court continues to develop.

RJ Barrett will also be a presence in this game, helping bring veteran leadership to a young lineup and demonstrate his abilities as a two-way player. In the last five games, he’s averaged 20-5-4 while shooting 48% from the floor.

As the Raptors go up against another team riddled with injuries and limited experience, they will have to limit mistakes on the offensive end and shore up their defence to secure a win.

Shead has been great at distributing the ball while limiting turnovers, but they will need to ensure it’s a team effort. They’ve turned the ball over about 15 times per game this season, so they will need to continue to work towards limiting them to prevent extra possessions for the Nets.

Another key for the Raptors will be limiting defensive lapses. The Raptors have had the third-best defensive rating in the league over the last 15 games, and while part of that is due to the calibre of their opponents, they have shown a lot of development over the season as well. Their help defence, communication, and switching have all made drastic improvements. The only issue is when that system breaks down, they allow an easy path to the basket or back cutting. This will be the perfect opportunity to continue to make adjustments defensively to prevent both of those things.

Where to Watch

Tune in at 3:30 pm ET on SportsNet!

Probable Starters

Toronto: Jonathan Mogbo, RJ Barrett, Orlando Robinson, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead

Brooklyn: Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Trendon Watford, Ziaire Williams, Drew Timme

Injury Report

Toronto: Scottie Barnes (Questionable: Joint contusion), Ulrich Chomche (Out: MCL tear), Gradey Dick (Out: Bone bruise), Brandon Ingram (Out: Ankle sprain), Jakob Poeltl (Out: Rest), Immanuel Quickley (Out: Rest)

Brooklyn: Nic Claxton (Out: Rest), Noah Clowney (Out: Ankle sprain), Cameron Johnson (Out: Back contusion), De’Anthony Melton (Out: ACL tear), D’Angelo Russell (Out: Ankle Soreness), Day’Ron Sharpe (Out: Knee sprain), Cam Thomas (Out: Hamstring strain)

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/2025/4/6/...ors-vs-brooklyn-nets-time-to-get-an-april-win

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Rap-Up: Hope springs eternal as the season wraps up

It’s the season finale of The Rap-Up, so let’s acknowledge how promising this year has been and how exciting next year will be!

Every April, hope springs eternal for Toronto sports fans.

The Toronto Blue Jays kick off an MLB season with dreams of adding a third World Series championship. The Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for a deep playoff run, hoping to end a 50+ year Stanley Cup drought. Sure, both teams typically end their seasons without raising their respective championship trophies, but the hope is undeniable at this point in the calendar.

Fans of the Toronto Raptors have plenty of reasons to be hopeful for the team’s future.

For the first time in his tenure with the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri admitted on Media Day before the season started that the team is going through a rebuild. The ‘r’ word often translates to multiple seasons in the lottery (i.e. ‘19-’24 Pistons, Process Sixers, present-day Wizards). As has always been the case with him, Masai defies conventional thinking on how to run an NBA franchise.

Almost every Raptor showed positive growth this season, helping accelerate the rebuild. Scottie Barnes grew as a leader and justified his position as the cornerstone of the franchise. Immanuel Quickley has shown flashes, more often than not, of the star point guard who will help lead the next era of Raptors basketball. IQ developed a great on-court chemistry with Jakob Poeltl. In fact, multiple teammates had great rapport with Poeltl, who was easily the second-most important Raptor this season. RJ Barrett validated the positive signs he displayed after Toronto acquired him last season.

Toronto endured several seasons of poor bench lineups and lacklustre young players. The proverbial chest was restored this year. Ochai Agbaji was one of the most improved three-point shooters. Gradey Dick started the season as a legitimate MIP candidate. Jamal Shead has already cemented himself as Toronto’s backup point guard of the present/future. Ja’Kobe Walter is capable of dropping 20 points and/or generating multiple steals on any given night. Jamison Battle is an absolute bucket.

Oh, and the front office already took care of Free Agency by picking up Brandon Ingram in ‘pre-agency’!

Regardless of where the Raptors end up after the Draft Lottery on May 12th, at least one rotation player is getting drafted in June. The team looks promising as is, and will look even better after the draft.

this ball movement ‍ pic.twitter.com/uUTA4BUra5

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 6, 2025​

April 9 vs Charlotte Hornets

It’s the final home game of the season! I’ve been lucky enough to attend (and cover) several games this year and can confidently say that the Raptors did an excellent job of celebrating the franchise’s 30th anniversary with themed nights, a plethora of Raptor alumni, and special guests/performances. Tonight, the team will celebrate the fans! There will be a special tribute for Nav Bhatia, but the overarching theme is to thank all the fans.

Paying homage to the fans is a nice way of wrapping up a season full of losses and bereft of star players. This game will be missing 2-3 All-Stars (Lamelo Ball and Brandon Ingram; Scottie Barnes is questionable), 1-2 starters (Brandon Miller; Jakob Poeltl is questionable), and slew of solid reserves and rising prospects (Tre Mann, Grant Williams, Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter).

Fun fact that may only interest me

The Charlotte Hornets are the only team in the bottom-10 that have not won the draft lottery this century. (That doesn’t count the Utah Jazz, who have never won the draft lottery)

With fairly similar odds — 10.61% vs this season’s likely odds of 14% — the Hornets’ only time winning the lottery was in 1991, when they finished with the 5th-worst record and eventually drafted Larry Johnson.

A lot of readers of this space were not born yet, but I was old lucky enough to watch him play. ‘Grandmama’ had Zion Williamson’s ferocity, but with a jumpshot. He was exciting to watch and played for the team with the best uniform. Johnson was a godsend to NBA merchandisers! If the lottery gods shine on Charlotte, this year’s draft will produce another hot commodity for Hornets jersey sales!

HBD GRANDMAMA LARRY JOHNSON

LEBRON: “My goodness! A straight up animal!"

KENDALL GILL: “Think LeBron with Hakeem’s footwork & Shaq’s strength. Damn, he was beautiful to watch.” pic.twitter.com/H8TWwns6xw

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 14, 2024​

Prediction

Resting starters is one thing. Watching a perfectly healthy Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett on the bench is expected for a tanking team. Resting young prospects, though, is another. The Raptors have already resorted to resting Ochai Agbaji recently. Now, they’ve added Jamal Shead to the ‘DNP-Rest’ list.

Yet, that still may not be enough against a Hornets team that only has one victory (over the lowly Utah Jazz) over its last 10 games. Toronto wins its final home game and covers the -10.5 spread.

April 11 @ Dallas Mavericks

By the time this game tips off, the Mavericks may have already clinched a spot in the play-in. As of April 9th, Dallas has a three-game lead over Phoenix, with three games remaining for both. The Suns host the Oklahoma City Thunder later that night.

If you read last week’s article, you know I’ve been tracking Toronto’s ‘Flagg-ic number’, which is currently at one. Any victory by the San Antonio Spurs or loss by the Raptors would guarantee Toronto can fall no further than 7th in the reverse standings. Inversely, the Raptors are also one victory or one Brooklyn Nets loss away from guaranteeing they cannot rise to 6th in the reverse standings. We’ve seen the Nets enough this season to know that a season-ending, three-game win streak over the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks is not going to happen!

With Dallas and the Sacramento Kings all but guaranteed to face each other in the 9-10 play-in game next week, you’d figure the Mavericks would rest their players and, ultimately, hurt Toronto’s plans of losing......but who exactly sits, outside of Anthony Davis?

Kyrie Irving and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are out for the season. Dante Exum is out with a hand injury and hasn’t played in three weeks. Jaden Hardy is dealing with a leg injury. As far as I know, Kessler Edwards, Kai Jones, and Brandon Williams have all used up their two-way games.

Fun fact that may only interest me

The Mavericks are 5-2 with Anthony Davis in the lineup. Considering all that’s been said in the aftermath of The Trade, you’d think the Mavericks were left with a roster full of G-Leaguers!

Dallas’ promising record with AD has kept alive my dream scenario: Lakers vs Mavericks in the play-in for the final playoff spot!

A victory over Sacramento in the first play-in game will take care of the Mavericks’ part of the deal. With 3 games remaining, the Lakers are in a logjam with five other teams for spots #3 through #8. Should the Lakers fall into the play-in spot AND lose the 7 vs 8 game, the entire sporting world will hold its collective breath as Luka Doncic faces the Dallas Mavericks in a do-or-die game!

Anthony Davis on the Mavs-Lakers game tomorrow night:

“It’s just another game. Y’all make it bigger than it needs to be. Another game for me. It will be Luka’s first time back, so might be a lot of emotions for him…”

(via @JoeyMistretta_) pic.twitter.com/ljxcRuL3Mk

— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) April 8, 2025​

Prediction

Davis needs as many reps as he can get before the postseason. With zero back-to-backs remaining on the schedule (the likely cause for him missing the Clippers game last week), I expect the Mavericks to field all their (healthy) starters. Dallas covers the -8.5 spread.

April 13 @ San Antonio Spurs

Welcome to the Ben Uzoh game!

In the final game of the 2011-12 season, the Raptors faced the New Jersey Nets. Both teams had identical 22-43 records in the strike-shortened season. A loss would raise the team to a tie for 5th in the draft standings, while a win would drop the team to a tie for 7th. Ben Uzoh, playing the 60th and, ultimately, final game of his NBA career, produced a 12-point, 12-assist, and 11-rebound triple-double. His efforts led the way for Toronto as the Raptors won by 31 points.

The Raptors would lose the 7th-place tiebreaking coin flip with Golden State. Instead of drafting Harrison Barnes, whom they wanted at #7, Toronto selected Terrence Ross at #8. More importantly, had the Raptors lost to New Jersey, drafting in 5th or 6th (a coin flip would have been needed to break another tie), Toronto would have selected the player that was drafted 6th — Damian Lillard.

It’s impossible to guess what would have happened after drafting Dame (Toronto probably would not have traded for Kyle Lowry after drafting Ross), but the implications of that final regular-season game loomed large.

If the Spurs or Raptors cannot take care of business before this game, 7th place in the draft lottery standings will be up for grabs!

Fun fact that may only interest me

Stephon Castle is the odds-on favourite to capture this season’s Rookie of the Year award. Victor Wembanyama was last season’s unanimous Rookie of the Year winner.

Last four rookie guards with a 1,000/250/250/70 season:

Luka
Trae
Cade
Stephon Castle

Good company. pic.twitter.com/1HQwklNrGP

— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 6, 2025​

No team in NBA history has ever won the Rookie of the Year three seasons in a row.

The Spurs have the 8th-best odds to Capture the Flagg. The lottery gods have been very kind to San Antonio when a generational big is the consensus #1 overall pick!

Prediction

Regardless of how the games play out leading to this, San Antonio has been competitive enough to be the favourite to win. Who knows what will happen with Chris Paul after this game. Or Chris Boucher. Or Garrett Temple. The winds of change are blowing and a crop of exciting rookies will further cramp the tight quarters that are NBA rosters. But before we think about what the offseason brings, let’s wrap up game #82. The Spurs end their season on a high note with a victory and covering the -5.5 spread.

********

Last Week’s Record: 4-0​

Season Record: 35-44​

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/2025/4/9/...f-the-week-april-7-13-hornets-mavericks-spurs

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Highs and Lows of the Toronto Raptors’ 30th Anniversary Season

Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

With the Raptors’ last home game of the season come and gone, we reflect on what went well and what did not for the Raptors.

Well Raptors fans, we are (almost) at the end of this season. On Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors played their last home game of the 2024-2025 season, fittingly on their stunning purple Vince Carter court. They’ll hit the road to close out their season, with no chance now of making a play-in tournament push. Instead, it’s right into draft talk for the Raptors, who have locked in the 7th best odds in the NBA Draft lottery.

Before we look ahead at the future, there is still some reflection to do on how the 2024-2025 fits into the tapestry of this franchise as a whole. It’s 30th season, not filled with wins so much as what felt like baby steps towards a future with (hopefully) more wins. Luckily (yet anyway, there is still a few days left) there were no lawsuits, no betting scandals, and it’s safe to say the overall vibe was better this season than last.

The Raptors have seemed to decide on a vision to focus on, did well drafting some solid projects to continue investing work in, and made a splash during the trade deadline. Yet, all of those are future moves and not now moves. The “now” product was... a work in progress.

“Before I talk about the team, I have to talk about our fans. We do have the best fans in the world. We’re going through rebuild and every single night 18,000, 20,000 people come to support us. It’s outstanding. We go on the road and sometimes we play against teams that are going through the same process. That’s not what we experience when we’re on the road. To see that kind of love and support, it really proves that this is a very special place.” - Darko Rajakovic

It wasn’t 100% bad though this year though, so let’s take a look at a few highs of the season:

Trading for Brandon Ingram​

The moment the vision started coming together. With the addition of Ingram, the Raptors path seemed plenty clearer, especially when his contract was extended so soon. He wants to be here, now he just needs to get healthy.

Before Wednesday’s win against Charlotte, Darko told the media that while Ingram won’t play in any of the Raptors’ remaining games, the prognosis seems good on his ankle. While the team was in Brooklyn, they went with Ingram to see an specialist doctor who told them his recovery was going well. He was given a platelet rich plasma injection this week, which will help speed up the recovery of his ankle as well. Darko noted that he should be healthy enough to participate in the Raptors’ offseason training schedule, and the hope is that he will be playing and back in good health by the time next season starts.

So trading for Ingram was a next season move, but the Raptors have a guy they can not only depend on but one with high ceiling. Ingram is a scorer — as he proved once by scoring a 40-piece on the Raptors. Him healthy alongside Scottie Barnes and the rest of the lineup will be a huge boost for the Raptors. Next year, anyway.

Team Chemistry​

If we couldn’t have wins, at least we had vibes. The team was filled with great energy and the players genuinely loved playing together. With that genuine connection came a lot of growth from them as leaders.

Scottie Barnes especially grew into his role a lot. On the TSN broadcast it was reported that Barnes hosted several team dinners throughout the season, and worked on both his leadership skills with the team while also training to represent the team better. That meant going through training to do better in media speaking engagements and making sure he was involving himself in the community.

That obviously trickles down into the younger players as well. Players like Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter already came to the team with reputations of being good teammates and good people, but this environment has helped them along. Walter is now the team ambassador for MLSE Launchpad, a charity that helps underserved youth through basketball programming. Shead is making addresses to the fans before games.

Leading this team off the court is of course Garrett Temple, who has been credited time and time again as the voice inside these guy’s young ears. Whether it’s about the on-court development or just life, Temple seems to be the guy to go to when you need to chat. It proves the closeness of this team.

"Let it be known" - If you were wondering whether Garrett Temple, who turns 39 in May, plans to retire after this season (as asked by @AaronBenRose post-game Wednesday). https://t.co/AbI4Izh1wI pic.twitter.com/dNBT6g93GE

— Lindsay Dunn (@LindsayDunnTV) April 10, 2025​

Temple stated after Wednesday’s game that he wants to come back and play next season. He turns 39 in May, and despite that shows great hustle on the court. There does not seem to be any reason to not re-sign Temple this summer. His deal is fairly cheap, and his impact on the core players is incalculable.

The team owns their lottery pick this time​

Last year, among the tanking discourse, the Raptors didn’t even own their own pick. It was top-6 protected, but similar to this season, the team ended on the edge of those odds. On top of that, they ultimately fell to the 8th pick and lost it anyway. This time that’s not an issue, because the Raptors own their lottery pick no matter what.

That’s a bonus. Of course the pick would have been better if the team had embraced the tank, but right now they have the 7th best odds. Who knows, they could make a leap, but it’s still an improvement. They have a 31.9% chance of leaping into a top-4 pick, and a 7.5% chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick.

Time to leave the purple season behind us​

Keep the purple though, and the Vince Carter court. Please.

The Raptors will end their season on Sunday evening in San Antonio. From there, players, Darko and Masai Ujiri will likely speak to the media next week to give end of season remarks before heading into the offseason.

The plan, Darko outlined Wednesday evening, is to balance individual work with rest and team training. Last summer, the Raptors took many chances to get the entire team together — including a full team retreat in Spain. Darko says the plan is to do similar things this summer, allow the players to get together in groups on their on as well, and send out coaches to meet up with players wherever they are to put in work as well.

For the coaching staff and front office, attention now turns to the draft, and soon after free agency. The Raptors have already locked up all their biggest players and likely won’t be big players in free agency this season. Ingram, Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley are all under contract for next season. Gradey Dick and the rookies (Shead, Walter, Mogbo and Battle) will likely be returning.

Maybe the biggest question is Chris Boucher, whose contract is expiring. The sole remaining member of the 2019 Championship team has been out of the rotation this season, playing sparse minutes. His last appearance was in late March, and when asked if Chris would take to the Raptors court one last time this season — possibly his last time ever in his home country jersey — Darko said it “wouldn’t be fair” to Boucher to make him play after he had sat for four weeks.

So other than a trip to the Lone Star State this weekend, the Raptors season is coming to a close. While many parts (mostly the purple parts) were great, there won’t be many people too sad to see this season in Raptors history come to a close.

The goal next season is to be competitive, so hopefully in a year we aren’t saying “have a good summer” to our Scotiabank Arena colleagues in April (when it snowed that morning) and instead prepping for a playoff push.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/2025/4/10...s-lows-darko-ingram-boucher-draft-free-agency