The Toronto Raptors will start the 2026-27 season at home, but the biggest storyline hanging over the schedule has nothing to do with the opener.
Toronto announced its regular-season slate on Thursday, and the release landed with the same unresolved cloud that’s been following the franchise: the NBA’s investigation into the ties between Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers and Aspiration, the now-defunct green tech and financial services company allegedly used to pay Leonard a no-show sponsorship deal. Raptors fans are still waiting to see how that plays out, even as the calendar finally gives them something concrete to circle.
The season begins Wednesday, Oct. 21, when Chicago visits Scotiabank Arena for a 7:30 p.m. tip. That makes it the 14th time in the last 15 seasons - and the 25th time in franchise history - that Toronto opens at home. The first road test comes two days later, on Friday, Oct. 23, in Washington against No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards.
The league released 80 games for every team on Thursday, with the final two to be determined after group-stage play in the NBA Cup wraps up. Toronto’s in-season tournament group includes Orlando, Milwaukee, Detroit and Brooklyn.
There are plenty of marquee dates baked into the schedule, too. The Raptors will see the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks in a back-to-back set on Nov. 15 and Nov.
- San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama come to Toronto on Dec. 16, and two-time reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Hamilton native, is set to visit on Mar.
Philadelphia’s revamped roster - now featuring LeBron James and former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey - comes north twice, on Jan. 10 and April 6. Whether James will be keeping his phone on airplane mode for those trips is another matter.
Still, the games that figure to draw the sharpest attention are the ones against the Clippers. Toronto goes to Los Angeles on Nov. 2, then hosts the Clippers on New Year’s Day.
In Other News...
Bradley Beal Gets Another Clippers Chance With Plenty Riding On It
Bradley Beal is getting another chance to fit into the Clippers plans, and this one comes with a lot more weight attached to it. After declining his player option, he agreed to return to Los Angeles on a deal that reflects how much the team still values the scoring help he can provide in the backcourt, even after a season in which he barely had time to settle in.
Beals first run with the Clippers was derailed by injury, and the club is clearly betting that a healthier stretch can finally make the pairing worthwhile. Miami also had interest during free agency, but the Clippers kept the door open and ultimately brought him back, leaving the next step to whether he can stay on the floor long enough to matter the way they expect. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Bring Back Familiar Name And Miami Suddenly Feels It
The Heats search for shooting has been one of the more obvious follow-up stories after their major move for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it had pulled them into conversations with some of the leagues most recognizable perimeter names. Miami was reportedly looking at Bradley Beal, Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan as it worked to round out the roster around its new centerpiece, a sign the front office is still trying to balance star power with the kind of spacing every contender needs.
Now Beal is off the board, heading back to the Clippers and trimming one of Miamis cleaner veteran options from the list. The Heats interest in Thompson and DeRozan is still unresolved, and with final roster spots to fill, the next choice matters just as much as the first one did. [Read more 🡒]