Time is running out to show they can actually beat good teams.<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 04, 2026 \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 Toronto Raptors are running out of chances to make a statement, which makes Sunday\u2019s game at Boston one of their biggest remaining.<\/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 Celtics were supposed to be a team that would be fighting to make the play-in, if not the lottery since superstar Jayson Tatum was projected to miss the entire season due to injury, but instead they\u2019ve been a force. After dropping 6-of-10 to start the season, Boston\u2019s gone 48-19 and Tatum hasn\u2019t shown much rust at all. This is the best team Toronto has left on the schedule (though New York isn\u2019t far behind) and a Raptors win would send a bit of a message at an ideal time. All season long Toronto\u2019s struggled to beat the NBA\u2019s elite. They\u2019re also just 4-10 against the Atlantic Division, indicating whoever they face in the post-season (if they make it) will knock out the Raptors pretty easily. The three Celtics wins over Toronto earlier this season haven\u2019t been too close, and Toronto won\u2019t have starting point guard Immanuel Quickley, giving Boston an even bigger edge at guard, where Payton Pritchard has dominated matchups for several years now, along with Derrick White.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s following two games, both at home against Miami, loom large too because the Heat sit only two games back, but Boston is a much stronger group and beating them, in Boston no less, would be a far more notable achievement. Brandon Ingram has stepped up against the Celtics, averaging 27 points and five assists in two games and Toronto\u2019s offence has been solid overall against them, but there hasn\u2019t yet been an answer defensively, and now Tatum needs to be dealt with too.<\/p>\n STANDINGS WATCH<\/p>\n Miami blew out woeful Washington, scoring 152 points on Saturday, to keep pace with Atlanta, Philadelphia, Toronto, Charlotte and Orlando, who all won Friday. Philadelphia, played Detroit later Saturday. A win would have put them half a game up on the Raptors, a loss half a game back, with four to play.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Charlotte plays in Minnesota Sunday, Orlando in New Orleans.<\/p>\n The Hornets and Hawks have the NBA\u2019s toughest remaining schedule, but both have been winning so often in recent weeks it might not matter. The Sixers had the eighth-toughest schedule remaining including Saturday\u2019s game against Detroit, Orlando the 10th, Toronto the 13th, Miami the 20th.<\/p>\n CMB IMPRESSING<\/p>\n Perhaps missing some time due to thumb and back issues has helped Collin Murray-Boyles avoid the rookie wall.<\/p>\n Instead, the first-year big man is thriving down the stretch, emerging as one of the best players on the floor in recent games.<\/p>\n After somewhat shockingly scoring 19 points in his second NBA game against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, Murray-Boyles did not top 17 in a game again for more than four months. But he\u2019s hit seven field goals in three straight games now, including 7-for-9 and 7-for-10 work over his last two, where he\u2019s scored 20 and 19 points, respectively. Murray-Boyles seems to be finishing inside a lot better than he was when his thumb was throbbing from pain after constantly being hit throughout the season. He\u2019s also shot eight free throws in each of the last two, indicating his aggressiveness is up as well.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n While Murray-Boyles was drafted ninth overall largely because of his elite defensive capabilities, he can, and eventually will do more offensively than he\u2019s shown so far surrounded by offence-first players like Ingram, RJ Barrett and Quickley. At South Carolina Murray-Boyles was the top scorer, a solid passer and compiled the second-highest field goal percentage in program history. As he gets more comfortable, Murray-Boyles will still make his name as a defender, but he will start showcasing more of his all-around talents.<\/p>\n Scottie Barnes is Toronto\u2019s best player, Ingram it\u2019s top offensive force, but Murray-Boyles is already one of its most important. He\u2019s a huge \u201cswing\u201d player for the team. If he continues to ascend, the Raptors will be a much stronger group whether in a play-in game or a playoff series and Murray-Boyles is already a crucial part of the franchise\u2019s future.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The 2025 draft crop was one of the strongest in years, but so far Murray-Boyles is holding his own. He\u2019s tied with top pick Cooper Flagg in win shares (ranking fifth overall, despite missing nearly 20 more games than the others atop the group), he\u2019s sixth in box plus\/minus and sixth in value over replacement player.<\/p>\n It will be interesting to see if he makes the all-rookie second team. Flagg, rookie of the year favourite Kon Knueppel, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey or Maxime Raynaud will probably comprise the first team. Right now Murray-Boyles would be an easy choice for me. I\u2019d probably have Cedric Coward, either Bailey or Raynaud, Murray-Boyles, Canadian Will Riley and either Jeremiah Fears, his teammate Derik Queen or Ryan Kalkbrenner for the final spot. Could see Murray-Boyles being in a major battle even though he\u2019s defended far better than nearly any rookie ever does.<\/p>\n @WolstatSun<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links SportsBasketballNBAToronto Raptors Time is running out to show they can actually beat good teams. 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Collin Murray-Boyles is thriving down the stretch, emerging as one of the best players on the floor in recent games. Photo by Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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