The Toronto Raptors will face off against the Chicago Bulls on opening day, a matchup that should favor the Raptors given the Bulls' 31-51 overall record last season. The Bulls finished near the bottom of the conference standings, and the Raptors will look to capitalize on this opportunity to start the season strong.
What happened?
The full 2026-27 NBA schedule has been released, and the Toronto Raptors will have a busy season ahead. The team will face off against top teams in the Eastern Conference, including the Philadelphia 76ers, who signed star LeBron James to a two-year deal after he departed the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.
Why it matters for Toronto Raptors
The Raptors will have a few key matchups against the 76ers, including a game on November 12 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The team will also face off against the defending NBA champion New York Knicks on November 15 and 17, who toppled the West's San Antonio Spurs in five games.
What comes next?
The Raptors will have a few more notable star-studded matchups on their hands, including a game against Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Heat on January 15. The team will also take on Victor Wembanyama's Spurs on December 16 at home in front of the Scotiabank Arena faithful. However, Toronto's lack of a true big outside of Jakob Poeltl will most likely come back to bite them during that matchup with Wembanyama's efficient scoring, lockdown rim protection, and 7'4'' stature.
The Raptors will have another primetime matchup on November 20 against a Detroit Pistons squad thirsty for vengeance following a second-round exit in the playoffs in spite of their first-place ranking in the East. The team will also face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 10, who will look to challenge the Raptors with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring and playmaking abilities.
Recent form
The Raptors have been struggling lately, with a recent form of 2W-0D-3L (LLWWL, most recent first). They lost their last two games, including a 114-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 3. The team will look to bounce back and start the season strong.
The Raptors will wrap up the season on April 11 against the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, who are coming off a 20-62 record and 13th-place finish in the East. The team will be back in action starting on October 21 at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
