The Toronto Raptors’ 2026-27 schedule is out, and a few dates jump off the page immediately.
Some of the season’s biggest tests are baked in early, while others land in the kind of spots that can shape a playoff push. From the opener at Scotiabank Arena to the final game at Barclays Center, Toronto has a handful of matchups worth marking down right now.
The season starts at home against the new-look Chicago Bulls, and it brings an intriguing first look at No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson. He’s expected to make his debut in a game that also gives him a chance to go head-to-head with former No. 4 overall pick Scottie Barnes. It’s the kind of opening-night stage Toronto will want to use to get rolling against a rebuilding opponent.
Another early spotlight game comes against the Clippers, and this one has extra heat because of the proposed offseason deal that would have sent Kawhi Leonard to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and multiple first-round picks. The league is still investigating the move, but even with that uncertainty, the matchup itself carries plenty of intrigue.
The Raptors’ first matinee of the season may also be the most notable. Toronto meets the Oklahoma City Thunder in a daytime game that comes against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a Thunder team expected to be among the league’s best. The Raptors won their annual trip to the Paycom Center last season, and they’ll be looking to keep that momentum going.
There’s also a return trip to Rocket Arena that should stand out on the calendar. The last time Toronto played there ended with a Game 7 loss in the first round of the playoffs, and that alone makes this one a natural target for the roster. The Raptors will have a chance to respond against the Cavaliers and try to leave with a statement win.
Later in the year, Toronto gets one nationally televised NBC game in the United States, and it comes against the Hawks. That game also opens a back-to-back leading into the All-Star Break, which only adds to the difficulty. Atlanta will be aiming higher in the Eastern Conference standings, so the Raptors will need to cut through the noise and bring the edge needed to win on the road.
The schedule also features a brutal six-game road trip that runs through five Western Conference opponents: the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Phoenix Suns. The final two games of that stretch are a weekend back-to-back, and it ends with a visit to the Pistons.
Detroit could be fighting for playoff positioning by then, just like Toronto, which gives that matchup real weight. It could even feel like a playoff preview with Cade Cunningham and the Pistons chasing another 60-win season.
Finally, the regular season closes at Barclays Center against the Nets. Toronto also sees Brooklyn twice in its final three games, which gives the Raptors a favorable stretch if the Nets are again in rebuilding mode. That late run could matter a lot when the standings tighten up.
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The Raptors search for another sturdy wing defender just got a little more interesting. Phoenix waived Haywood Highsmith, opening the door for a player who has bounced through a few stops but has built a reputation as a tough, role-friendly piece on the perimeter. For a Toronto roster that has spent plenty of time looking for wings who can defend, move without the ball and fit into a larger rotation, that kind of profile is at least worth a long look.
Highsmiths path has been a winding one, and the health piece only adds another layer to the evaluation. He is coming off meniscus surgery and played only seven games for the Suns last season, so any team considering him has to balance the fit against the uncertainty. Still, for a club like Toronto, the appeal is obvious enough to keep the conversation alive as the market settles. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Could Have A Stunning Kawhi Path Without The Full Price
The Raptors pursuit of Kawhi Leonard has taken a strange turn, one that leaves Toronto waiting on the NBAs next move before the deal can officially go forward. The original agreement sent Leonard to the Clippers as part of a package that included Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap, but the trade is now on hold while the league reviews allegations tied to how Leonards contract was put together.
If the investigation ends with a finding of cap-circumvention wrongdoing, the entire picture could change for Toronto in a way few teams ever get to imagine. Instead of paying the full trade price, the Raptors could suddenly be positioned to chase Leonard in free agency, while commissioner Adam Silver has said the league hopes to wrap up the matter by the end of the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors May Have One Kawhi Problem They Cant Fix Midseason
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Jamal Shead and JaKobe Walter are among the salaries that could be moved if Toronto tried to create flexibility, but that kind of deal would come with its own awkward tradeoff. For a team trying to stay in the mix while Leonard remains part of the picture, the bigger issue is whether the front office can improve the roster without sacrificing the kind of depth it is trying to build in the first place. [Read more 🡒]