TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors will return to the NBA playoffs after they open their best-of-seven first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. It’s the primary time Toronto has been within the playoffs for the reason that 2021-22 season after they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.
Listed here are five things you could know:
DECEPTIVE RECORD — The Raptors swept the regular-season series with the Cavaliers, winning all three of their games. Nevertheless, all three of those victories got here in a season-defining span between Oct. 31 and Nov. 26, when Toronto went 13-1. More importantly, Cleveland made a blockbuster trade for surefire Hall of Famer James Harden on Feb. 4, reshaping the team’s offence.
FAMILIAR FOES — It’ll be fourth time the Raptors and Cavaliers meet within the post-season, with Cleveland dominating the lopsided rivalry with a 12-2 record over the previous three series. Led by all-time great LeBron James, the Cavaliers won the 2016 Eastern Conference finals 4-2, then swept the 2017 and 2018 East semis.
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HEALING TIME — Toronto’s roster was pretty banged up heading into the ultimate game of the regular season, although all but Chucky Hepburn (knee surgery) made themselves available to play within the playoff-clinching 136-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Advancing straight to the playoffs and skipping the play-in tournament can be key to the Raptors getting some badly needed rest.
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“It’s a time that we are able to get some rest and reset. I’m blissful about it,” said all-star forward Brandon Ingram. “We got a pair days before we got to step back on the ground again. Rest is all the time good.
EUROVISION — Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, who’s from Serbia, became the primary European coach to steer an NBA team for a whole season and reach the playoffs. Finland’s Tuomas Iisalo was promoted to go coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on March 28, 2025, but they already had a 44—29 record when he took over from the fired Taylor Jenkins and were sure for the playoffs.
“There’s not a whole lot of us, it’s not an enormous accomplishment,” joked Rajakovic before getting more serious. “There are such a lot of players, so many coaches from the previous Yugoslavia, especially from Serbia, that made this path possible for me.
“Without all of those successes of our national team, without successes of the clubs, of individual successes of players after which coaches, I’d never be on this position.”
JURASSIC PARK RETURNS — The Raptors announced on Monday that their tailgate party in Maple Leaf Square on the west of Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena — colloquially often known as Jurassic Park — will return for home and away games throughout the post-season. The event will feature onstage entertainment, pop-up activations, special appearances from celebrities and team personalities, exclusive prizes, food and beverage offerings, in addition to merchandise.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press