Raptors on cusp of returning to NBA playoffs - BERITAJA

As acold arsenic Darko Rajakovic is concerned, the hostility of not knowing if his Toronto Raptors will scope the NBA playoffs aliases stumble into the play-in tourney this play is “the beauty of the job.”

The Raptors visited the New York Knicks connected Friday and will big the Brooklyn Nets connected Sunday successful the last 2 games of the regular season, pinch a triumph successful either crippled clinching Toronto’s first playoff berth successful 4 years. If the Raptors suffer some games, they’ll person a longer way to the playoffs, having to beforehand done the four-team play-in tournament.

“This is what we signed up for, and this is very, very breathtaking for our coaching staff, our team, for the metropolis of Toronto, for our fans,” said Rajakovic astatine believe connected Wednesday. “Just the way that we had successful the past 2 years, successful my 3 years coaching here, conscionable being successful a position to plan, to conflict for something, to conflict for a playoff, to conflict for seeding, and each of that is very, very meaningful.

“I deliberation it’s helping pinch the improvement of our players, of our roster.”

The Raptors were without 2 cardinal pieces successful New York arsenic starting constituent defender Immanuel Quickley (plantar fasciitis, correct foot) and rookie centre Collin Murray-Boyles (neck strain) were ruled retired hours earlier tip-off.

Both played wounded successful back-to-back wins complete the Miami Heat successful Toronto connected Tuesday and Thursday. Rajakovic appreciated them playing done the pain, particularly Quickley, who he said had a affirmative effect connected the full roster.

“He allows everybody to spell to their roles that they were processing during the full season. Guys for illustration to play pinch him. He provides a batch of spacing, opens up the floor.

Toronto besides waived defender Tyreke Key connected Friday, though he ne'er really played immoderate minutes pinch the NBA club. The transaction will let the Raptors to person either Alijah Martin aliases AJ Lawson of Brampton, Ont., from a two-way woody to a modular NBA statement by Sunday, making that subordinate playoff eligible.

The Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers person each locked up playoff spots successful the Eastern Conference, pinch Detroit clinching the apical seed. The Raptors (45-35) were 5th entering play Friday, tied pinch Atlanta but up of the Hawks connected tiebreakers.

After the 2 losses successful Toronto, Miami is locked into the play-in for a 4th consecutive year. Entering Friday, the different 3 teams successful the section were the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.

The Raptors haven’t been successful the playoffs since the 2021-22 season, erstwhile they mislaid to the Sixers successful the first round.

Backup centre Sandro Mamukelashvili said earlier this week that the full play has been starring up to this weekend.

“We’ve been keeping each different accountable and playing hard. Even though sometimes we person ups and downs, we enactment together. We effort to fig it retired together,” he said. “Coach (Rajakovic) is doing a awesome occupation coaching america and helping america get complete the humps that we have. It’s astonishing to beryllium wherever we’re astatine because I don’t deliberation anybody saw america being here.

“Now we’ve conscionable sewage to fastener successful and decorativeness strong. It’s not done until it’s done.”

This study by BERITAJA was first published April 10, 2026.