So far as Darko Rajakovic is anxious, the strain of not knowing if his Toronto Raptors will reach the NBA playoffs or stumble into the play-in tournament this weekend is “the great thing about the job.”
The Raptors visited the Recent York Knicks on Friday and can host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday in the ultimate two games of the regular season, with a win in either game clinching Toronto’s first playoff berth in 4 years. If the Raptors lose each games, they’ll have an extended path to the playoffs, having to advance through the four-team play-in tournament.
“That is what we signed up for, and this could be very, very exciting for our coaching staff, our team, for the town of Toronto, for our fans,” said Rajakovic at practice on Wednesday. “Just the trail that we had within the last two years, in my three years coaching here, just being ready to plan, to fight for something, to fight for a playoff, to fight for seeding, and all of that could be very, very meaningful.
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“I feel it’s helping with the event of our players, of our roster.”
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The Raptors were without two key pieces in Recent York as place to begin guard Immanuel Quickley (plantar fasciitis, right foot) and rookie centre Collin Murray-Boyles (neck strain) were ruled out hours before tip-off.
Each played hurt in back-to-back wins over the Miami Heat in Toronto on Tuesday and Thursday. Rajakovic appreciated them playing through the pain, especially Quickley, who he said had a positive impact on the complete roster.
“He allows everybody to go to their roles that they were developing through the whole season. Guys prefer to play with him. He provides lots of spacing, opens up the ground.
Toronto also waived guard Tyreke Key on Friday, although he never actually played any minutes with the NBA club. The transaction will allow the Raptors to convert either Alijah Martin or AJ Lawson of Brampton, Ont., from a two-way deal to a regular NBA contract by Sunday, making that player playoff eligible.
The Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Recent York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have all locked up playoff spots within the Eastern Conference, with Detroit clinching the highest seed. The Raptors (45-35) were fifth entering play Friday, tied with Atlanta but ahead of the Hawks on tiebreakers.
After the 2 losses in Toronto, Miami is locked into the play-in for a fourth consecutive yr. Entering Friday, the opposite three teams in the sphere were the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.
The Raptors haven’t been within the playoffs because the 2021-22 season, once they lost to the Sixers in the primary round.
Backup centre Sandro Mamukelashvili said earlier this week that the complete season has been leading as much as this weekend.
“We’ve been keeping one another accountable and playing hard. Though sometimes we’ve got ups and downs, we stay together. We attempt to figure it out together,” he said. “Coach (Rajakovic) is doing an amazing job coaching us and helping us recover from the humps that we’ve got. It’s amazing to be where we’re at because I don’t think anybody saw us being here.
“Now we’ve just got to lock in and finish strong. It’s not done until it’s done.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press