Toronto Needs One Win to Lock In the Playoffs, but Brooklyn Has Nothing to Lose Sunday Night

The Toronto Raptors are down to their final test of the regular season, and it could not be more straightforward: beat the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night and clinch a top-six playoff spot. Lose, and they might slip out of the guaranteed postseason entirely. That is how tight things are in the Eastern Conference right now.

Toronto sits at 45-36 after dropping a brutal 112-95 road loss to the Knicks on Friday. The loss knocked them down to sixth place, the final guaranteed playoff spot, even though they had a chance to clinch that spot themselves with a win. Coach Darko Rajakovic was not mincing words about what comes next: "All antennas are up, one game to go, the final of the season. We've got to find the best focus, the best version of ourselves. We have to be at the peak of our performance for that game."

The Raptors Blew a Big Opportunity Against New York

Friday's loss to the Knicks was frustrating because Toronto had control early. The problem came in the second quarter, when they got outscored 29-15 and never fully recovered. Rajakovic said the team competed throughout but could not capitalize on chances to get back in it. The Raptors were also undermanned, missing Immanuel Quickley (foot injury management), Collin Murray-Boyles (neck sprain), and RJ Barrett (sore right knee, late scratch).

Sandro Mamukelashvili led Toronto with 17 points off the bench. Brandon Ingram added 16, while Scottie Barnes and Ja'Kobe Walter each scored 15. Ingram has been a crucial part of Toronto's improvement this season, and he credits Rajakovic's coaching: "He holds me accountable on and off the floor. He tells me what I need to do, whether I want to hear it or not. He's made me a better defender. He's made me care about that side of the basketball more."

Brooklyn Comes In Desperate but Dangerous

The Nets are 20-61 and heading toward lottery territory, but they are not rolling over. Brooklyn has won two of three matchups against Toronto this season. Their most recent win came 96-81 back on December 21. However, the Nets have dropped their last two games, including a 125-108 loss to Milwaukee on Friday.

In that loss to the Bucks, Tyson Etienne led Brooklyn with a career-high 23 points and shot 6-for-12 from three. Malachi Smith had 19 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists, going 5-for-7 from long range. Nets center Nic Claxton did not play due to a sprained finger but acknowledged the reality: "This year was rough obviously. So we've got one more game, we flush that out, we get back to the drawing board this summer."

If Toronto finishes sixth, they draw the third-seeded Knicks in the first round. That is a brutal matchup: New York has beaten Toronto in 13 straight games, including five times this season. A top-five finish would require the Hawks and Magic to both lose while Toronto wins. Either way, Sunday night is everything.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.