NBA Releases Upcoming Raptors Schedule With Play-In Times and Playoff Dates

The Toronto Raptors will play the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday with play-in and playoff games tentatively scheduled for Friday and Sunday

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

It's do-or-die time for the Toronto Raptors.

With 82 games in the books, the future for the Raptors now comes down to a pair of must-win play-in games starting Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET in Toronto against DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls. Should the Raptors win that game, Toronto would face another must-win game, this time on the road against either the Miami Heat or Atlanta Hawks who play their play-in game Tuesday in Miami.

The timing for the second play-in game is yet to be announced but is scheduled for Friday evening ahead of the West Coast play-in game for the final playoff spot in each conference.

If the Raptors survive both games, Toronto would become the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and open the first round of the playoffs Sunday on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. The timing of that game has yet to be announced.

Losing in either play-in game would send Toronto into the lottery where they'll have somewhere between a 1% and 2% chance to land Victor Wembanyama depending on how the rest of the play-in tournament shakes out. Should the top seeds all advance, the Raptors will have a 1% shot at the No. 1 pick and a 4.8% chance at a top-four selection. Those odds will increase if Chicago or Oklahoma City advance out of the play-in tournament.

The draft lottery is scheduled for May 16, 2023.

Further Reading

O.G. Anunoby ends season as NBA's steals champion

Raptors discuss Scottie Barnes' sophomore campaign as Regular Season draws to a close

Raptors embarrass themselves against Celtics as season nears its disappointing end