Raptors Look to Rebound Against Short-Handed Bulls Amid Trade Deadline Chaos
The Toronto Raptors are still searching for consistency-and last night’s collapse against the Timberwolves didn’t help the cause. After building a sizable lead, Toronto once again struggled to close, going cold in the fourth quarter and ultimately falling 128-126 at home. It was a familiar script: promising stretches of basketball undone by late-game execution issues.
But the NBA calendar doesn’t allow much time to dwell. The Raptors are back at it tonight, hosting a Chicago Bulls team that’s in the middle of a full-blown roster shakeup ahead of the trade deadline. For Toronto, this game is more than just a shot at redemption-it’s a chance to regroup, experiment, and build momentum heading into the All-Star break.
Raptors Outlook: A Chance to Reset
Recent Results:
- vs Timberwolves - L 128-126
- vs Jazz - W 107-100
- @ Magic - L 130-120
- vs Knicks - L 119-92
- @ Thunder - W 103-101
Toronto’s lineup hasn’t shifted much-at least not yet. Chris Paul is technically still on the roster, but all signs point to him being moved before the 3 p.m. trade deadline.
Ochai Agbaji is already gone, which thins out the wing rotation and puts more pressure on young guards like Ja’Kobe Walter and Gradey Dick to step up. Trayce Jackson-Davis is expected to join the frontcourt soon, but he won’t be available tonight.
Last night, head coach Darko Rajaković leaned into lineup experimentation. He ran Collin Murray-Boyles (CMB) with four bench players to close the first quarter, paired Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram to end the third, and then held both out of the fourth until the seven-minute mark. It’s clear Rajaković is using this stretch to test combinations and evaluate chemistry ahead of the post-deadline push.
Tonight’s matchup against a depleted Bulls squad is more than a winnable game-it’s a live-action lab. The Raptors are favored, and rightfully so, but this isn’t a game they can afford to take lightly. With three games left before the All-Star break and a looming matchup against the surging Pistons, Toronto needs to use this opportunity to fine-tune its identity.
Bulls Outlook: Roster in Flux
Recent Results:
- @ Bucks - L 131-115
- @ Heat - L 134-91
- @ Heat - W 125-118
- vs Heat - L 116-113
- @ Pacers - L 113-110
The Bulls are in the thick of a roster overhaul, and it shows. With key players like Josh Giddey and Zach Collins unavailable, and several others listed as questionable, Chicago is rolling out an inexperienced lineup that’s short on depth and cohesion.
That opens the door for some lesser-known names to get meaningful minutes. Japanese guard Yuki Kawamura, listed at 5-foot-8, and Australian rookie Lachlan Olbrich could see extended run tonight. It’s a golden opportunity for them to gain NBA experience-but also a clear advantage for Toronto.
Chicago is 1-3 on the road during this stretch and will be without several key rotation players. Their defense, already shaky, is likely to be even more vulnerable.
If the Raptors bring energy and focus, this is a game they should control from start to finish. Anything less than a win would raise serious questions about where this team is headed.
Projected Starters
Chicago Bulls
- PG: Yuki Kawamura
- SG: Ayo Dosunmu
- SF: Isaac Okoro
- PF: Matas Buzelis
- C: Jalen Smith
Toronto Raptors
- PG: Immanuel Quickley
- SG: RJ Barrett
- SF: Brandon Ingram
- PF: Scottie Barnes
- C: Collin Murray-Boyles
Injury Report
Toronto Raptors
- Jakob Poeltl (Lower Back Strain) - Out
- Chucky Hepburn (G League Assignment) - Out
- A.J.
Lawson (G League Assignment) - Out
- Alijah Martin (G League Assignment) - Out
Chicago Bulls
- Zach Collins (Right First Toe) - Out
- Josh Giddey (Left Hamstring) - Out
- Noa Essengue (Left Shoulder) - Out
- Ayo Dosunmu (Bilateral Quadricep Tendon) - Questionable
- Tre Jones (Left Hamstring) - Questionable
- Julian Phillips (Right Wrist) - Questionable
Game Info
- Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m.
ET
- TV: Sportsnet ONE
- Radio: SN 590
- Venue: Scotiabank Arena
Toronto’s still figuring things out, but tonight offers a perfect storm: a home game, a weakened opponent, and a chance to build confidence before the break. If the Raptors want to make a second-half push, it starts with taking care of business in games like this.