With nine games left, including Sunday’s visit by Orlando, the Raptors are well positioned, but some areas of concern need to be addressed.<\/p>\n
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Published Mar 28, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 5\u00a0minutes ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n The top-four seeds in the Eastern Conference seem firmly ensconced, with the Detroit Pistons, arguably the NBA\u2019s best feel-good story of the season, well-positioned to finish first for the first time in nearly two decades.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The bottom four remain very much up for grabs.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n With the advent of the play-in tournament, finishing among the top six prevents a team from venturing into this realm.<\/p>\n Entering Saturday\u2019s play, the Raptors find themselves in the No. 5 seed, a slot the Atlanta Hawks occupied when Toronto lost to the L.A. Clippers to cap off a 2-3 road trip.<\/p>\n Any loss this late in the regular season, coupled with any win from any of the competing sides, can change the standings, as evidenced by Friday\u2019s results when the Hawks lost to the Celtics.<\/p>\n Of this muddled pack, the Hawks and Charlotte Hornets have been playing the best.<\/p>\n Orlando, which provides the opposition Sunday night as the Raptors wrap up a quick two-game homestand, snapped a six-game losing slide when the Magic beat a very bad Sacramento Kings team Thursday night, two nights after the host Hornets pummeled the Kings 134-90.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Sacramento visits Scotiabank Arena on April 1 when the Raptors are all but assured of adding to their win total.<\/p>\n Fans will get to watch DeMar DeRozan, but other than seeing the former Raptor or watching Doug Christie, a former Raptor as well, coach the Kings, the night should not inspire any excitement from the visitors.<\/p>\n Nine games remaining, no telling where the Raptors will end up finishing, which includes the play-in, the schedule does tip in Toronto\u2019s favour.<\/p>\n NOT GOOD ENOUGH<\/p>\n The season has shown that the Raptors aren\u2019t good enough when playing a good team, their 41-32 record was built on taking care of business against bad teams.<\/p>\n Within the conference, only one win has been posted against eight defeats when matched up against Detroit, Boston and New York.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Raptors will face each team down the stretch, all three on the road, including a tip in New York in the penultimate game of the regular season that may not have any bearing on the Knicks\u2019 playoff fate.<\/p>\n A two-game home set against the Miami Heat has the potential to be meaningful, but the Raptors do match up well, having twice beaten the Heat in South Beach this season by scores of 106-96 and 112-91.<\/p>\n At worst, the Raptors earn a split, at best, they achieve a sweep.<\/p>\n A game in Memphis is on the schedule, a season-ending home tip against Brooklyn all but circled as a win, it\u2019s conceivable the Raptors are heading for at minimum a 45-win season, perhaps even as many as 47 wins.<\/p>\n The inevitable question of what it all means will be asked.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The easy response would be to say nothing because this group will be judged in the playoffs and this season ultimately remembered by how well the Raptors do in the spring.<\/p>\n Based on the regular-season meetings against the top-three teams, the Raptors don\u2019t have a chance in the opening round.<\/p>\n The Raptors never played the Cleveland Cavaliers with James Harden, but a Cavs-Raptors playoff matchup seems very likely.<\/p>\n Matchup-wise, it\u2019s a good one for the Raptors, but we doubt a series win will be produced.<\/p>\n Force a six-game or better yet a seven-game series and this season should be viewed as successful with a handful of players evolving into rotational pieces.<\/p>\n The big picture will resolve itself.<\/p>\n For now, the focus must be on unlocking Brandon Ingram by returning him to that offensive catalyst and bucket getter he has embraced for the entire season until this rough stretch arrived.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n When the Raptors beat visiting New Orleans Friday night, it marked Ingram\u2019s 70th game of the season, the most he has played since his rookie season with the Lakers in 2016-17, when Ingram appeared in 79 games.<\/p>\n Barring injury, it seems very likely Ingram will match his career-high.<\/p>\n While one back-to-back set awaits, the second game of the back-to-back is against the Kings.<\/p>\n Mind you, by the time the April 12 season finale rolls around, the home tip versus the Nets might not mean anything for the Raptors.<\/p>\n We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play VideoMORE NEEDED<\/p>\n Still, the Raptors need Ingram to revert to his high-level of offensive versatility and performance, while the Raptors need to get Ingram more involved.<\/p>\n He missed eight shots on 13 attempts in Toronto\u2019s 119-106 win.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n In Toronto\u2019s embarrassing loss in Phoenix, Ingram had arguably his worst game as a Raptor when he was held to six points, a season low and the fourth time he was held to single digits.<\/p>\n Two of those single-digit scoring nights came against Charlotte.<\/p>\n As talented a scorer as Ingram is and has been, he is not a good defender, which is why his offence needs to be on point in the remaining games.<\/p>\n An efficient Ingram on offence, coupled with his ability to draw defenders and the Raptors will avoid the play-in.<\/p>\n It will also give the Raptors some extra time to deal with Immanuel Quickley\u2019s foot issue.<\/p>\n He\u2019s missed the past three games, an absence that underlined Toronto\u2019s weakness at point guard.<\/p>\n Starting Scottie Barnes at the point against an inferior team such as the Pelicans is one thing, but it won\u2019t cut it in the playoffs.<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Quickley isn\u2019t an ideal point guard because he\u2019s more of a scoring guard, but his ability to make threes does open the floor for the likes of Barnes and Ingram.<\/p>\n Quickley is also good in transition, whether he\u2019s looking to score or facilitate.<\/p>\n Heading into Sunday\u2019s home tip versus the Magic, the Raptors are positioned to avoid the play-in.<\/p>\n The schedule helps their cause, but nothing is ever set in stone.<\/p>\n In Barnes\u2019 rookie season in 2021-22, the Raptors finished fifth in the conference before losing in six games to Philadelphia in the opening round of the playoffs.<\/p>\n History may repeat itself.<\/p>\n![\"032826-CP176024888\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cp176024888_302230020-e1774726471101.jpg\")
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shields the ball from Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 23, 2026, in Phoenix. Photo by Rick Scuteri \/APArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.8.4\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, left, works against Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 20, 2026, in Denver. Photo by David Zalubowski \/APWHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN<\/p>\n![\"Loading...\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.8.4\/websites\/images\/common\/icon-spinner-animated.svg\"){kind=icon}
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