The gravitational pull of the NBA’s play-in tournament is calling out to the Toronto Raptors. And it may be too late to escape its reach if the Raptors can’t salvage the four games that remain in their west coast road trip.
The Raptors (25-19) are currently one game ahead of the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic and only hold a four-game advantage over the 11th-place Chicago Bulls. Toronto doesn’t have a great history of coming back from its trip out west with a winning record. It’s realistic for this
team, especially as they continue to navigate through their injuries, to experience a downward spiral in the Eastern Conference by the end of their business trip.
The challenges remain relentless, with the next hurdle in the gauntlet being the Golden State Warriors.
Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet for Canadian viewers.
Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the contest.
Three-point woes
The Raptors’ inability to knock down shots from beyond-the-arc is hurting them. While it’s always been a concern when trying to construct a roster around Scottie Barnes, the need for shooters has become especially important since the acquisition of Brandon Ingram.
Golden State is averaging 16.2 three-pointers (1st) on 36.5 per cent efficiency (10th) this season. It’s important that Toronto breaks out of its shooting slump to help neutralize the home-run ball.
Teams have traditionally gone to zone against the Raptors over the last few years. But it’s shockingly embarrassing how often soft coverages have been deployed in the last month. Opponents don’t respect Toronto’s perimeter shooting and the stats support their reasoning.
The Raptors rank last in the league in three-point efficiency at 33.6 per cent. Since Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic replaced Nick Nurse, the team has finished in the bottom percentile from the perimeter. They shot 34.8 per cent last season (23rd) and 34.7 per cent in 2023-24 (27th).
After going 6-for-37 (16 per cent) against the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 12, the Raptors are 28-for-93 (30.1 per cent) over the last three games.
Expect the Warriors to go into zone anytime the Raptors’ offence looks like it’s gaining confidence.
Warriors eager to come out and play
Since their dramatic 141-127 overtime loss to the Raptors on Dec. 28, the Warriors are 8-3. They have also won their last three games by an average of 18.3 points.
While Stephen Curry continues to serve as the game-breaking engine of the Warriors’ offence, and the combination of Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green take turns with contributing memorable performances, it’s the team’s auxiliary pieces that have changed the team’s fortunes.
Brandin Podziemski is averaging 16.6 points on a blistering 67.8 per cent shooting during the Golden State’s three-game win streak. He’s also contributing 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals in this stretch. Podziemski hasn’t scorched the net like this since mid-December, when he finished six straight contests with double-digit scoring.
Moses Moody is also finally realizing the potential the Warriors saw when the organization drafted him with the 14th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft. Moody is averaging 15.6 points per game over the last three contests. He’s having a career-season in points (10.6), three-point percentage (39.2 per cent), steals (0.9) and blocks (0.6). Moody’s production as a three-and-d type of wing has helped offset Buddy Hield’s inconsistency and the drama of Jonathan Kuminga.
CMB down
While Jakob Poeltl (back) and RJ Barrett (ankle) are expected to miss the game, it’s the possibility of Collin Murray-Boyles’ inclusion on the injury report that might be the most significant narrative thread.
Murray-Boyles’ defensive prowess for a rookie is abnormal. On the surface, his six-foot-seven frame and non-elite athleticism don’t look threatening for someone moonlighting as a centre. But for a team without a true big man in its lineup, his intimidating presence and defensive genius are what have held this team together, particularly during the offence’s cold stretches.
