Lottery Look: Raptors Have Nearly Clinched Their Draft Lottery Spot

The Toronto Raptors are one loss away from clinching the sixth-worst record in the NBA ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies

Apr 10, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Garrett Temple (17) drives to the / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

It just takes one more loss.

A loss to the Miami Heat in one of the next two games will give the Toronto Raptors sole possession of the sixth-worst record in the NBA this season and a 45.8% chance to land a top-six pick in the NBA Draft.

Toronto almost put itself in a tough position Wednesday night by nearly knocking off the Brooklyn Nets to clinch a victory that could have put the Raptors in a precarious position with two games to go. But some clutch shooting from Dennis Schröder allowed Toronto to sneak out of Brooklyn with the loss.

The Memphis Grizzlies remain two games behind Toronto and are unlikely to win either of their final two games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. A win would, however, clinch the Raptors that coveted sixth spot in next month's NBA Draft lottery.

Toronto has won just twice in the last month as the organization has tried to tank its way into keeping its first-round pick this year. Should the Raptors fall in the draft lottery, their first-round pick will go to San Antonio as part of the return for Jakob Poeltl.

31st Pick

The Detroit Pistons have a 1.5-game lead on the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA with three games to go in their season. They do play the San Antonio Spurs on the final day of the season, but as long as Detroit doesn't win twice, Toronto should get the 1st pick in the second round courtesy of the OG Anunoby trade.

That pick is particularly noteworthy this season considering the draft has been split up into two separate days, meaning Toronto could have the first pick on Day 2 of the NBA Draft.