The Toronto Raptors are off to a rocky start despite their explosive offense. Their high-scoring attack, fueled by an impressive assist rate and a focus on driving to the basket, has yet to translate into wins. This is largely due to a porous defense that is allowing an NBA-worst 124.7 points per game. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, the Raptors struggle to close out games, leaving them with a 2-7 record.
Air Canada is paying tribute to NBA legend Vince Carter with a special livery featuring his silhouette and jersey number, as the Toronto Raptors prepare to retire his iconic number 15 jersey. The airline is also planning various activations and tributes during the jersey retirement ceremony, showcasing their strong commitment to Canadian sports and athletes.
Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to a criminal conspiracy charge for his role in an NBA gambling scandal, admitting to tipping off others about his plans to leave games early to profit from betting against his performance. Porter, who was banned from the NBA for life, faces up to 4-3/4 years in prison.
The Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, and Minnesota Timberwolves emerged victorious in their respective NBA playoff games on Tuesday, evening their series and gaining an advantage. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks to a 96-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, while Pascal Siakam’s standout performance helped the Raptors defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-101. In the Western Conference, the Timberwolves took a 2-0 lead in their series against the Phoenix Suns with a 123-97 victory.
The NBA playoffs kicked off this weekend, and the action lived up to the hype. All eight Game 1s were won by the home team, the first time that has happened since 2013. Here are some of the key takeaways:
* The Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 122-109, extending their winning streak against L.A. to nine games.
* The Boston Celtics set a franchise playoff record with 22 made 3-pointers, while Jayson Tatum recorded his first career playoff triple-double in a 118-107 win over the Miami Heat.
* The Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks 110-108, despite another injury scare for Joel Embiid.
* The Toronto Raptors dropped Game 1 to the Orlando Magic 118-95, as the Magic held them to 32.6% shooting from the field.
* The Milwaukee Bucks took a 1-0 series lead over the Miami Heat with a 109-102 win, as new acquisition Damian Lillard poured in 35 first-half points.
