Back-to-back wins over the Miami Heat have ensured the Toronto Raptors will finish between fifth and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Toronto wraps up its season against the New York Knicks on Friday and the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
Crucially, the Raptors hold the tiebreaker over the Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, and Atlanta Hawks. The Philadelphia 76ers are the only relevant team with the tiebreaker over Toronto.
Who Could Toronto Raptors Face in Play-In Tournament?
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks and Raptors would both need to be overtaken by two teams to meet in the play-in tournament. It’s very unlikely, as Atlanta’s magic number to secure a top-six spot is one, and Toronto would need to lose both of its games to be overtaken by Orlando or Charlotte.
Atlanta, which will face the Cleveland Cavaliers and Heat in its final two games, is far from guaranteed an automatic playoff berth. The Hawks could yet finish as low as ninth.
Philadelphia 76ers
Philly has lost three games in a row, Joel Embiid is undergoing surgery, and the 76ers need to win their last two games to have any chance of avoiding the play-in. Those matchups are against the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks.
Toronto would need to lose both games to face the Sixers in the play-in. Atlanta would need to win at least one of its remaining games, and Orlando would have to win its last two.
Orlando Magic
The Magic have won four games in a row and are only one game behind the Hawks and Raptors. They lose the tiebreaker to Charlotte, Atlanta, Toronto, and Philadelphia.
On the road against the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics to close the season, the Magic need to win both to have any chance of avoiding the play-in.
Toronto will face Orlando only in the seven-eight matchup if the Sixers win both games, the Raptors go 0-2, and the Hawks win at least one game.
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte has the tiebreaker over the Magic and Hawks. The Hornets are one game behind the Magic and two behind the Hawks. Games against the Detroit Pistons and Knicks leave the Hornets in a difficult spot, with the ninth seed looking like their most likely landing spot.
The Hornets’ path to face the Raptors in the play-in is complex. Charlotte would need to win both of its games, with Orlando or Philadelphia replacing the Raptors in the top six.
It’s a scenario worth considering for Raptors fans, though. The Hornets are perhaps Toronto’s scariest potential opponent. They aren’t one of the title favourites in the NBA betting markets at the BetMGM online sportsbook, but Charlotte leads the NBA in net rating in 2026 with the league’s best offence and an elite defence.
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