Raptors and Pelicans rematch in Toronto

Mar 11, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) dribbles against Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images This is a revenge game for the Toron

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What is the story about?

This is a revenge game for the Toronto Raptors. Sort of.

Some have said that the Raps’ last loss to the Pelicans and the brutal staredown Jamal Shead suffered at the hands of Dejounte Murray were the catalyst to the Raptors getting their act back together and winning three games in a row. This game is a rematch to see if, indeed, the Raptors took any lessons about team cohesion and toughness to heart.

Both the Raptors and Pelicans find themselves in ironically similar circumstances finishing out the regular

season. The Raps’ road trip has finally come to an end with a loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers, while Nola is walking off a loss to the Pistons. Both teams have been middling of late, going .500 in their last 10 games. While the Pelicans have been mathematically eliminated, they found themselves at the 11th seed, just outside of the postseason, while the Raptors are fighting to hold on to their playoff berth, jostling with the rest of the East for the 6th seed. More similarities abound, with the Raptor and Pelicans playing without their starting point guards, as Immanuel Quickley and Dejounte Murray are both missing tonight’s game due to injuries.

The Raptors are no strangers to thrashing bottom of the conference opponents, with their most recent handiwork being the dismantling of the Utah Jazz on Monday. It’s been a matter of public record that the Raptors kill teams worse than them and fumble games against the best in the league, and this looks to be no different of a situation. The loss of Quickley’s shooting and facilitating is of course a blow to Toronto, but the recent heroics of Ja’Kobe Walter make this the best time to be dealing with that deficiency. Walter has been fantastic from long range of late, and his shooting throughout March has been a standout part of a Raptors team that has left much to be desired. Jamal Shead has been a more than solid backup ball handler, and has great potential to show out tonight. The Pelicans are playing without a number of starters, their guard depth especially weak tonight, suggesting the need of a scoring explosion from Zion Williamson to keep the Pels in the game. Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles should match up well with the bowling-ball forward, who was held to only 19 points during their last matchup.

With Murray out, however, some of the narrative of this game has had the wind taken out of it. Shead, likely to start, won’t get a chance to avenge his staredown on the court. The best thing the Raptors can do to show the Pelicans that they mean business is to play tough defense, avoid giving up early leads, and preventing either of Jeremiah Fears or Derik Queen from getting hot, as they’ve been able to do throughout the season. Is a rose by any other name just as sweet? Maybe it is, when the rose is a potential win this late in the season.