The Toronto Raptors will likely be going to the 2026 NBA Playoffs. After three straight years of missing the postseason, this qualifies as a feel-good campaign for the franchise. Some good things have happened for the Raptors this year: Scottie Barnes has taken a big leap in his scoring efficiency, Brandon Ingram earned an All-Star nod in his first year with the team, and the defense has jumped from No. 17 last year to No. 6 this season.
The Raptors also feel like a flawed team that beats up on bottom-feeders and loses to anyone good. On Wednesday, they suffered their biggest indignity of the season against a team that has nothing to play for when Dejounte Murray sealed a New Orleans Pelicans win over the Toronto Raptors with an incredibly brutal three-pointer.
Murray was hounded by Toronto’s Jamal Shead late in the fourth quarter. Murray’s crossover put Shead on the floor, then he ripped a three, then he bent at the waist to yell at Shead in the face. Sheesh. Watch the full play here:
This angle of it is even worse:
The Pelicans beat the Raptors, 122-111. The Raptors are now in play-in territory as the No. 7 seed in the East, a half-game behind the Miami Heat for the No. 6 seed. It’s cool that Toronto fans have had something to cheer for this season, but I just don’t believe in this team in the playoffs at all. The Raptors can’t beat good teams, and they have been embarrassed by a tanking team.
The Pelicans only have 22 wins, but that’s suddenly good enough to put them in No. 7 in the reverse standings when they were No. 1 a couple months ago. That’s good, because their draft pick is owed to Atlanta. Maybe the Derik Queen trade won’t age so poorly after all.
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