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TORONTO RAPTORS NEWS

Joel Embiid probable for Game 5

Asked if Embiid was dealing with the flu, teammate Jimmy Butler said: "I'm not a f—ing doctor, I don't know."

Kirstie Chiappelli

Leonard may re-sign with TOR?

Leonard re-signing with Toronto is a “serious consideration now,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday on “The Woj Pod.”

E.Jay Zarett

Has Kawhi Leonard become the best player in the NBA?

Kawhi Leonard's level of play could propel the Raptors to the Eastern Conference finals, but it has also put the former Finals MVP squarely in the middle of the best basketball player alive debate.

Jordan Greer

Butler tells Simmons to attack

Jimmy Butler had some advice for 76ers teammate Ben Simmons following Sunday's loss to the Raptors.

Sacha Pisani

Joel Embiid played through illness

"I didn’t have a good night,” Embiid told reporters, via KYW Newsradio. “Didn’t sleep. Guess I needed an IV at six in the morning."

E.Jay Zarett

Raptors top 76ers; Jokic leads DEN

Kawhi Leonard torched the 76ers for a game-high 39 points and 14 rebounds.

Ameer Tyree

Pascal Siakam doubtful for Game 4

Raptors star forward said Saturday his calf is swollen.

Chelsea Howard

NBA refs to host live Twitter Q&A

Officials will answer fans' questions live during Game 4 of the Raptors-76ers and Bucks-Celtics series.

Chelsea Howard

3 takeaways from 76ers' Game 3 win

Philadelphia cruised to a dominant 116-95 victory over the Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center in Game 3 of their second-round series.

E.Jay Zarett

76ers pull away in Game 3

Philadelphia cruised to a 116-95 win over the Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center in Game 3 of their second-round series.

E.Jay Zarett

Siakam trips Embiid intentionally

Pascal Siakam was not subtle in this attempt.

Thomas Lott

Monroe probable, Scott questionable

Greg Monroe is listed as probable while Mike Scott is considered questionable for the 76ers’ Game 3 matchup against the Raptors.

E.Jay Zarett

Green addresses recent struggles

Green has hit just three of his 13 field goal attempts through the first two games of the Raptors’ series with the 76ers.

E.Jay Zarett

Raptors rotation under scrutiny

The Raptors' loss to the 76ers on Monday will force coach Nick Nurse to reassess his tactics for Game 3.

Peter Hanson

NBA wrap: 76ers hold off Raptors

After getting blown out in Game 1, Philadelphia came away with a 94-89 win over Toronto on Monday at Scotiabank Arena.

E.Jay Zarett

Brown praises 'stud' Butler

Jimmy Butler led the way with 30 points and 11 rebounds as the 76ers leveled things up against the Raptors on Monday.

Sacha Pisani

76ers' Embiid probable for Game 2

Embiid reportedly was back at the team hotel and would not participate in Monday's shootaround.

Kirstie Chiappelli

Updated odds to win 2019 NBA title

The Rockets follow Golden State at 6/1 while the Bucks and Raptors both check in at 7/1.

E.Jay Zarett

Embiid: I need to do a better job

Embiid gave credit to Raptors stars Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam, saying they came ready to play and worked hard for their win.

Chelsea Howard

Nick Nurse salutes Kawhi Leonard

Leonard started the Toronto Raptors' series against the Philadelphia 76ers with 45 point and 11 rebounds.

Peter Thompson

Nuggets outlast Spurs in Game 7

Toronto easily took Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals from the 76ers while the Nuggets will move on to face the Trail Blazers.

Alexis Mansanarez

76ers vs. Raptors series preview

Everything you need to know about the 76ers and Raptors before their conference semifinal series in the 2019 NBA playoffs.

Sean Deveney

Embiid to increase workload

"(It's) an issue that's going to be there at least all playoffs until I actually get some real time to get some rest," Embiid said.

Alexis Mansanarez

3 things from Raptors vs. 76ers

Toronto came away with victories three of the four times the teams met in the regular season.

E.Jay Zarett

Raptors, 76ers get blowout wins

The Raptors and 76ers were both upset in Game 1, but won four straight to eliminate their opponents.

Ameer Tyree

Celtics sweep Pacers to advance

Boston will likely play the Bucks, who are one game away from sweeping the Pistons, in the second round.

Ameer Tyree

Raptors just hold off Magic surge

Both teams were careless with the ball, but the Magic evaporated Toronto's lead down the stretch.

Ameer Tyree

Leonard played through illness

The Raptors star logged 37 minutes despite missing his team's last two practices.

Ameer Tyree

Raptors get big win over Magic

Second-seeded Toronto improved considerably, and Kawhi Leonard was simply unstoppable against Orlando.

Ameer Tyree

NBA playoffs 2019: Early East upsets only heighten free-agency anxiety

Early East upsets were good reminders of how much is at stake in the NBA playoffs: not only the chance to win a championship, but also millions of dollars for a few key players.

Sean Deveney

NBA playoff predictions 2019: Picking the bracket, from first round to NBA Finals

Can anyone prevent another Warriors championship? Who will emerge from the Eastern Conference with LeBron James no longer in charge? Let's go through the 2019 NBA playoff bracket to find out.

Sean Deveney

NBA playoffs wrap: April 13

Brooklyn will have a chance to go up 2-0 against Philadelphia on Monday, and the 76ers are definitely feeling the pressure.

Ameer Tyree

NBA playoffs bracket 2019: Eastern Conference first-round series picks, predictions, breakdowns

Sporting News' Sean Deveney breaks down each Eastern Conference first-round series and offers his playoff picks.

Sean Deveney

Raptors' Anunoby has appendectomy

The surgery is a blow as the Raptors, seeded second in the East, prepare to take on the seventh-seeded Magic in the NBA playoffs.

Bob Hille

Eastern Conference previews

The conference is loaded with talent and four teams have a legitimate chance to play for the title.

E.Jay Zarett

Magic's Isaac clears for Game 1

Isaac, selected by Orlando with the sixth overall pick out of the 2017 draft, has averaged 9.6 points in 75 games this season.

Chelsea Howard

Raptors vs. Magic: Predictions, picks for 2019 NBA playoffs first-round series

Everything you need to know about the Raptors and Magic before their first-round series in the 2019 NBA playoffs.

Sean Deveney

When do the NBA playoffs start? First-round schedule, odds for top 2019 contenders

The 2019 NBA playoff field is finally set. Here are the final NBA standings along with playoff matchups and start dates for each round.

Jordan Greer

NBA playoffs: EC by the numbers

The East is wide open as the Bucks, Raptors, 76ers and Celtics all have a legitimate chance to compete for a ring.

E.Jay Zarett

NBA standings: Seeding scenarios, breakdown for final spots in 2019 playoffs

That's it. The last regular season game has been played. It's finally time for the 2019 NBA playoffs.

Jordan Greer

NBA wrap: April 9

Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki each played their last home games, as both have plans to retire after the season.

Ameer Tyree

Kawhi Leonard's free agency gives Raptors new, intense fear ahead of playoffs

While old concerns over the Raptors' playoff positioning amounted to bouts of hand-wringing, there is now a full-fledged angst looming over what might happen next with star forward Kawhi Leonard hitting free agency this summer.

Sean Deveney

Lakers vs. Raptors: Time, TV channel, how to live stream

Both the Raptors and Lakers need a win to emerge from a recent funk as the season enters its final weeks.

Thomas Schlarp

Rockets vs. Raptors: Time, TV channel, how to live stream

The Raptors are playing host to the Rockets on Tuesday night. Here's everything you need to know in order to watch the game.

Blair Berry

Stalling Celtics have made many changes but minimal progress

At a time it was expected to ascend, Boston is struggling in a much-improved Eastern Conference.

Dan Bernstein

Celtics vs. Raptors: Time, TV channel, how to live stream

The streaking Raptors defend their home arena as the Celtics look to finally find their form with just six weeks left in the regular season.

Thomas Schlarp

NBA Power Rankings: Klay Thompson has Warriors trending up; LeBron James, Lakers keep tumbling down

The NBA is back to regular action now, with around 25 games to go for most teams. To get reacquainted with where these teams left off, let’s see what had been trending before the All-Star break in this week’s Power Rankings.

Sean Deveney

Raptors hoping new additions will help exorcise old playoff demons

Toronto has long excelled in the regular season, only to come up short in the playoffs. But a couple blockbuster trades may finally have the Raptors on the brink of postseason success.

Thomas Schlarp

76ers, Raptors come away with biggest 'NBA 2K19' boosts after busy trade deadline

Moves by the 76ers and Raptors at the trade deadline helped them become the two strongest rosters in the league behind only the mighty Warriors, according to "NBA 2K19."

Bryan Wiedey

Can acquisition of Marc Gasol convince Kawhi Leonard to stay in Toronto?

The addition of Marc Gasol could help entice Kawhi Leonard to re-sign with the Raptors long term.

John O'Callaghan

Clippers-76ers trade brings nothing but bad news for Raptors

The surprising Clippers-76ers trade gives the Raptors another contender to worry about in the East and opens the door for Kawhi Leonard to leave for Los Angeles this summer.

Sean Deveney

Raptors vs. 76ers: Time, TV channel, how to watch online

Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors head to Philadelphia to take on Joel Embiid and the 76ers. Here's what you need to know to watch the game live on TV or stream online.

Zac Lane

Bucks vs. Raptors: Time, TV channel, how to watch online

It's the final regular-season meeting between the Raptors and Bucks, the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Here's how to watch the game live on TV and stream online.

Zac Lane

NBA players react on social media to Victor Oladipo's knee injury

LeBron James, Paul George and others around the league sent their well wishes to the Pacers guard after he was injured Wednesday night.

Drew Nantais

Raptors approached Thunder about DeMar DeRozan-Paul George trade last season

The Raptors made one of the biggest splashes of the NBA offseason by trading DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard. Apparently that wasn't the only deal Toronto considered involving DeRozan.

Jordan Greer

NBA trade rumors: With Kyle Lowry out, Raptors search for playmaking help

After the trade for Kawhi Leonard, don’t expect the Raptors to follow up with another blockbuster deal. Getting Kyle Lowry healthy and adding depth to address their most obvious issue will be enough.

Sean Deveney

NBA Power Rankings: Bucks ride defense to top; Pelicans hurt by lack of depth

The Bucks and Nuggets are the leaders in their respective conferences, and they also land at the top of our latest NBA Power Rankings.

Sean Deveney

Raptors vs. Spurs: Time, TV channel, how to watch online

The Raptors head to San Antonio to face the Spurs in this Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference matchup.

Shanna McCarriston

NBA MVP race: Contenders closing gap on Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is still the top MVP candidate, but other stars like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard are keeping the race competitive.

Jordan Greer

Four reasons why Raptors aren't true NBA Finals contenders just yet

The East-leading Raptors have struggled lately. This could just be an early-season lull for Toronto, or it could be a sign that the Raptors are not as championship-ready as they thought.

Sean Deveney

Kawhi Leonard already taking Raptors to new heights: 'There's more to come with this guy'

Kawhi Leonard has been a Raptor for less than 30 games, but in that short time, he has already made a significant impact on a Toronto team looking to take the Eastern Conference crown.

Mark Suleymanov

Bucks vs. Raptors: Time, TV channel, how to watch online

Two of the Eastern Conference's best teams will meet for the second time this season. Here is all the information you need to watch Bucks-Raptors.

Jacob Janower

Kyle Lowry, Raptors acknowledge he needs to play better

While Kyle Lowry has still found ways to be productive, he and the team recognize his recent shooting woes need to improve.

Mark Suleymanov

Raptors president Masai Ujiri addresses Kyle Lowry's comments about their relationship

The Raptors are playing like a well-oiled machine since the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard, but Kyle Lowry may be harboring feelings of resentment about the trade that sent DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs.

Jordan Greer

Tonight's FanDuel NBA DFS picks: Lineup advice, sleepers for Monday, Dec. 3

Get your FanDuel cash lineup ready for Monday's NBA DFS contests with injury updates and key sleepers to target tonight.

Dan Bernstein

NBA Power Rankings: Raptors, Clippers keep rolling; Celtics, Jazz still slumping

For this edition of the NBA Power Rankings, we’re looking at the biggest surprises around the league, including the surging Clippers, sinking Celtics and much more.

Sean Deveney

Warriors vs. Raptors: Time, TV channel, how to watch online

When, where and how to watch Warriors vs. Raptors.

Shanna McCarriston

NBA MVP race: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo rises above competitive crowd

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry and Kyle Lowry are already worthy candidates on the NBA MVP radar.

Jordan Greer

What happens when NBA stars leave? Road back to relevance isn't easy

Sporting News identified 11 star NBA players who left behind their franchises and had a look at some common themes that emerged in the aftermath of their departures.

Sean Deveney

Real or fake? MVP Stephen Curry, Lonzo Ball's shooting and more early-season trends

The NBA season is in full swing, but we must avoid letting the hot takes fly based on small sample sizes. How do we know what's real?

Joe Morgan

NBA Power Rankings: Bucks, Warriors start strong; Lakers, Rockets stumble early

It’s early still, but soon we’ll have a decent enough sample size to say some definitive things about players and teams around the league. Who jumped out to a fast start in Sporting News' NBA Power Rankings?

Sean Deveney

Kawhi Leonard suffers jammed foot in Raptors' victory over Suns

Kawhi Leonard suffered a "jammed foot" late in the Toronto Raptors' win on Friday. Leonard played in just nine games last season because of injury.

Mark Suleymanov

76ers vs. Raptors: Time, TV channel, how to watch online

Joel Embiid and the 76ers take on Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors in an Eastern Conference matchup.

Shanna McCarriston

NBA trade rumors: Which big men could soon hit open market?

Sporting News spoke with a few NBA executives to get a grip on some of the big men who could be hitting the trade market this winter — and those who probably won’t.

Sean Deveney

This Kawhi Leonard sequence is exactly why Raptors traded for him

Raptors star Kawhi Leonard thinks it's a "little too early" for MVP chants, but it didn't take him long to rediscover his MVP form. That much was clear in Toronto's win over the Timberwolves.

Jordan Greer

Watch Kyle Lowry's heartbreaking pregame 'air bump' handshake with DeMar DeRozan

The longtime NBA friends and teammates were separated in the offseason when the Raptors traded DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard.

LeBron James' seven biggest Lakers games to watch in 2018-19

Mark your calendars for LeBron James' most highly anticipated games of the 2018-2019 season.

Jacob Janower

Eastern Conference Tiers: Celtics look to take LeBron-less East with challengers lurking

For the first time in eight years, the Eastern Conference will be represented in the NBA Finals by a team without LeBron James. Let's see how it all goes down in the East.

Joe Morgan

Kawhi Leonard, Raptors can only live in present with season of uncertainty ahead

The Raptors know Kawhi Leonard can be a free agent next summer. The battle starts now to convince the star forward he should stay in Toronto rather than chase the bright lights of Los Angeles.

Sean Deveney

NBA free agency rumors: Kawhi Leonard may prefer Raptors, Clippers over Lakers

New Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard still has eyes on Los Angeles, but he may not end up on the Lakers next summer.

Jordan Greer

With LeBron James gone, who takes East crown? Cases for (and against) top contenders

Now that LeBron James has taken his talents to Los Angeles, every contender in the East is looking to climb the ladder to the top of the conference. But who has what it takes to reach the 2019 NBA Finals?

Jordan Greer

Ranking top available 2019 NBA free agents (with possible star landing spots)

The Summer of 2019 should offer the kind of fast-paced volume signings NBA fans have come to expect from the league’s offseason tilt-a-whirl. Here are the top 10 free agents you should be watching closely.

Sean Deveney

Three strange NBA scheduling decisions for big 2018-19 game nights

The schedule release for marquee NBA game nights gives us a chance to fire off some irrational anger about the league's decision-making process.

Jordan Greer

Kawhi Leonard can help highlight underrated element of Kyle Lowry's game

Adding Kawhi Leonard could have the greatest positive impact on Raptors guard Kyle Lowry.

Sporting News

David Robinson on Spurs' struggles with Kawhi Leonard: 'He's a hard guy to understand'

Hall of Famer David Robinson described the drama surrounding Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs as "one of the oddest situations I think I've seen since I've been in pro basketball."

Jordan Greer

Danny Green reveals injury from Spurs season, defends Kawhi Leonard seeking second opinion

Danny Green revealed on his podcast he played part of last season with a torn groin, and defended teammate Kawhi Leonard's decision to seek a second medical opinion.

Evan Sporer

Jordan Brand will let Kawhi Leonard walk when deal expires, report says

Kawhi Leonard will only be a Jordan Brand athlete until October.

Gabe Fernandez

Lakers set themselves up to be ultimate winner in Kawhi Leonard trade

The Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard in a blockbuster trade with the Spurs, but the Lakers know Leonard will be thinking of them once he hits free agency next summer.

Joe Morgan

NBA trade rumors: Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan really didn't want this deal to happen

The Spurs and Raptors have completed a trade involving Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan, but both stars aren't exactly excited about the idea of switching cities.

Jordan Greer

Twitter reacts to blockbuster Kawhi Leonard-DeMar DeRozan trade

Twitter reacted in numerous ways to the reported trade between the Raptors and Spurs.

Conor Roche

Spurs turn on pettiness in aftermath of Kawhi Leonard trade saga

The Spurs are finally past the Kawhi Leonard saga, but not without some possible parting shots.

Evan Sporer

Raptors' big trade for Kawhi Leonard is worth risk — even if he doesn't stay in Toronto

The Raptors' deal for Kawhi Leonard has the potential to finally push the Raptors over the hump in the Eastern Conference.

Chris Stone

With Kawhi Leonard trade, Raptors land on wrong side of line between hope, desperation

Under normal circumstances, trading for a star like Kawhi Leonard would be tremendous win for the Raptors. These are not normal circumstances, however.

Sean Deveney

All eyes are on Kawhi Leonard, but Danny Green could make impact with Raptors

While DeMar DeRozan and Kawhi Leonard have received most of the attention in the aftermath of Wednesday's blockbuster trade, Danny Green's potential impact for Toronto cannot be overlooked.

Mark Suleymanov

How much could trade cost Kawhi on next deal?

How much money could Kawhi Leonard lose in a potential trade to the Raptors? Here's how the contract numbers break down.

Jordan Greer

NBA trade rumors: Spurs, Raptors agree to deal involving Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan

The Spurs will reportedly trade Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to the Raptors in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a first-round pick.

Jordan Greer

NBA trade rumors: Kawhi Leonard deal would be complete disaster for Spurs, Raptors

There are rumors flying about the Raptors making a deal for surly Spurs star Kawhi Leonard, but a trade wouldn't make much sense for either side.

Sean Deveney

NBA trade rumors: Would Spurs move Kawhi Leonard for these trade packages?

Let's break down potential trade packages for a few suitors (Lakers, Celtics, 76ers and Raptors) who have shown interest in acquiring Spurs star Kawhi Leonard.

Jordan Greer

NBA championship odds 2019: Celtics huge favorites to lose to Warriors in NBA Finals

With LeBron James in the West, the Eastern Conference is suddenly the Celtics' to lose.

BetChicago

NBA Draft rumors: Willing to trade up for Bamba?

Will a team like the Celtics or Bulls trade up to take Mo Bamba? Why are there so many secrets surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Let's take a closer look at the latest NBA Draft rumors.

Sean Deveney

NBA Draft rumors: Raptors have limited options on trade market

It's almost time to put the Suns on the clock and start the 2018 NBA Draft. Here are the latest rumors surrounding the Clippers, Raptors and Warriors ahead of draft night.

Sean Deveney

Why Raptors' Jonas Valanciunas, Masai Ujiri are relying on Nick Nurse for future success

If everything goes right for the Raptors and new head coach Nick Nurse, it could benefit Jonas Valanciunas and Masai Ujiri, two guys who need to shine for this franchise to move forward.

Sean Deveney

NBA playoffs 2018: Today's score, schedule, live updates

Live updates, scores and schedule for today's NBA playoff games.

Sporting News

Can Raptors move top stars on trade market? NBA exec weighs in

The Raptors, essentially, have four significant trade chips, and each of them comes with certain challenges. Here's what Toronto could see on the trade market this summer.

Sean Deveney

Raptors tweet congrats to recently fired Dwane Casey for Coach of Year candidacy

It's a nice gesture from the Raptors, but maybe a little too much, too soon.

Blake Birt

With Dwane Casey gone, Raptors could consider these 10 coaching candidates

The Raptors made the expected, though perhaps not wise, move on Friday and announced that they had fired coach Dwane Casey. Now comes the difficult task — finding his replacement.

Sean Deveney

NBA community reacts to Dwane Casey being fired by Raptors

NBA Twitter was somewhat surprised by the Raptors announcing the firing of Dwane Casey, two days after winning Coach of the Year.

Jordan Heck

Shaquille O'Neal drops 'Google me, Chuck' on Barkley during heated talk

The original discussion was about whether Raptors coach Dwane Casey needs to fix his relationship with DeMar DeRozan. It ended with another reminder by Shaq that Chuck has zero championships.

Tom Gatto

Raptors offseason outlook: Summer of change could be coming in Toronto

Many Raptors fans are calling for a full-scale teardown after another disappointing loss to the Cavs. But how exactly would a rebuilding effort in Toronto work?

Sean Deveney

Five stats you need to know about Cavs' sweep of Raptors

From Kevin Love’s emergence to the fall of the best bench in the NBA, here are five stats you need to know from the Raptors' second-round series against the Cavaliers.

Scott Rafferty

Raptors join list of teams that couldn't clear one big hurdle to reach NBA Finals

The Cavs have once again knocked the Raptors out of the postseason. It's not the first time a team simply couldn't solve one roadblock in the NBA playoffs.

Bill Bender

Raptors still can't solve LeBron James, setting tone for uncertain future

The harsh reality is the Raptors became the first No. 1 seed to be swept in the second round since 1969. Now Toronto must find answers to very difficult questions.

Bill Bender

Watch SNL's hilarious unaired LeBron James sketch

A hilarious promo about the Cavaliers not named LeBron James was cut for time during "Saturday Night Live."

LeBron James' game-winner vs. Raptors causes Twitter frenzy among NBA stars

LeBron James surely knew he would set Twitter ablaze once he hit his game-winning shot against the Raptors.

Gabe Fernandez

NBA playoffs 2018: LeBron James' game-winner vs. Raptors, frame by frame

LeBron James continues to torment the Raptors and enrapture the NBA world. Check out how he broke Team Canada's hearts again in Game 3 of the Cavaliers-Raptors series.

Tom Gatto

Waffle House hero gets surprise visit from Dwyane Wade on 'Ellen'

James Shaw Jr., the hero who stopped a shooter at a Nashville-area Waffle House last month, was surprised by Dwyane Wade during a recent appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

Drake, Kendrick Perkins get into war of words during, after Game 1 of Raptors-Cavs

Kendrick Perkins and Drake are beefing? This Raptors-Cavs series is already getting weird.

James McKern

LeBron James, Fred VanVleet exchange heated words after foul call

Raptors guard Fred VanVleet didn't appreciate the extra shove he received from Cavs forward LeBron James.

Carlan Gay

How Raptors' second unit changed course of season — and why it matters against Cavs

After a number of postseason shortcomings, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey revamped his approach and strategy ahead of the 2017-18 season. An increased role for the team's reserves has propelled Toronto to its best year in franchise history.

Gilbert McGregor

How Raptors' second unit changed course of season — and why it matters against Cavs

After a number of postseason shortcomings, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey revamped his approach and strategy ahead of the 2017-18 season. An increased role for the team's reserves has propelled Toronto to its best year in franchise history.

Gilbert McGregor

NBA playoffs 2018: Odds, predictions to win NBA Finals after first-round eliminations

AccuScore simulates the rest of the 2018 NBA playoffs to see which teams have the best chances of winning the NBA title.

AccuScore

With Fred VanVleet back, Raptors' bench unit feeling 'complete' for playoff run

Friday night’s fourth quarter is a reflection of the role Toronto’s bench can play going forward in the playoffs, as its ability to put pressure on the minutes of an opposing team’s starters can swing games late.

Chris Stone

NBA playoffs 2018: Kelly Oubre Jr.'s war of words with Delon Wright hits absurd heights

Kelly Oubre Jr. might have threatened to kill Delon Wright . . . after he gets killed himself.

Gabe Fernandez

NBA playoffs 2018: With East series tightening up, each team still holds one key weakness

All eight playoff teams in the Eastern Conference bracket have been severely let down by some facet of their game. In some case, those facets were actually strengths during the regular season.

Sean Deveney

NBA playoffs 2018: Tensions between Wizards, Raptors run high in Game 3

The competitive fire between the Raptors and Wizards burns bright throughout Game 3 of their series

Gabe Fernandez

NBA playoffs 2018: John Wall, Drake engage in friendly trash talk

The feud between Wizards point guard John Wall and Drake began on Instagram and continued in Air Canada Centre as Drake sat courtside for the Raptors' Game 1 win.

Gilbert McGregor

Six big questions that will determine 2018 NBA playoffs

Let’s take a look at six questions that will likely determine the outcome of this year’s playoffs, starting with the team that has the most to lose in the opening round.

Scott Rafferty

NBA playoffs 2018: 'NBA 2K18' predicts multiple upsets in competitive first round

Injuries and parity have introduced uncertainty to the first round of this year's NBA playoffs. The simulation engine in "NBA 2K18" provides some insight on what to expect.

Bryan Wiedey

Celtics vs. Raptors: Score, results, highlights from Toronto's easy win

Sporting News provided live updates throughout Wednesday's game between the Celtics and Raptors. Catch up on everything you missed right here.

Jordan Greer

Celtics vs. Raptors: Preview, time, TV channel, how to watch online

The Celtics and Raptors will meet for the second time in five days with the East's top seed hanging in the balance.

Gilbert McGregor

Raptors evolved in order to thrive, but NBA playoffs will test winning formula

With a focus on ball movement, pace and floor spacing — three pillars of success in today’s NBA — the Raptors have gone from being a team built to compete in the early 2000s to one built to compete now.

Scott Rafferty

Raptors vs. Celtics: Preview, time, TV channel, how to watch online

The East's top two teams battle in Boston on Saturday night.

Gilbert McGregor

Five takeaways from Cavs' thrilling win over Raptors, LeBron James' historic performance

Wednesday night's Cavs-Raptors contest was undoubtedly exciting, but what does it really mean in the grand scheme of things?

Jordan Greer

NBA sides with officials on no-call in Thunder-Raptors that led to DeRozan ejection

The league deems Corey Brewer's contact with DeMar DeRozan late in Sunday's Thunder-Raptors game legal. DeRozan was among three people ejected in the aftermath of the no-call.

Tom Gatto

Bizarre ending to Thunder-Raptors leaves Dwane Casey confused, DeMar DeRozan furious

Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, forward Serge Ibaka and head coach Dwane Casey were all ejected with less than 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of Toronto's loss to Oklahoma City.

Jordan Greer

NBA playoff picture: Predictions for Eastern Conference race with seeding up for grabs

The top two seeds are all but set in the East, as are the remaining seeds in the field. But from teams looking for seeds No. 3-8, there is still much to be determined.

Sean Deveney

DeRozan opens up about depression

DeRozan discussed a tweet he sent during the All-Star break that read: “This depression get the best of me…”

Travis Durkee

NBA standings: Playoff picture for tight races in East, West

Let's take a full look at the NBA standings and see what juicy matchups we could see when the 2018 playoffs roll around.

Jordan Greer

Kevin Love, DeMar DeRozan demonstrate power, not weakness, in addressing mental health

The refreshing candor of Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan will only further the conversation about mental health issues and help others dealing with similar problems.

Jordan Greer

Raptors took big risk in drafting OG Anunoby, but it's already paying off

OG Anunoby’s numbers don’t jump off the page in the same way Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum’s do, but he’s been one of the most impactful rookies in the league this season.

Scott Rafferty

Raptors are atop East, but Toronto has five reasons to worry about NBA Finals prospects

With the East struggling and Toronto having made effective changes, the Raptors have become a trendy pick for the NBA Finals. But there are still reasons to be cautious.

Sean Deveney

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets, Warriors fight for No. 1 as teams take on second-half missions

The stretch run of the 2017-18 NBA season is upon us, and as we look at where teams sit currently in our Power Rankings, we’ll also examine what ought to be their mission for the post-All-Star stretch.

Sean Deveney

NBA schedule: Week of Jan. 22 games include Celtics-Warriors, Cavaliers-Spurs

The top games in the NBA this week are headlined by a showdown between the East-leading Celtics and West-leading Warriors.

Skylar Rolstad

Ben Simmons on altercation with Kyle Lowry: 'I'm not gonna take s— from anybody'

Sixers rookie Ben Simmons and Raptors guard Kyle Lowry felt the need to have a conversation Monday afternoon. It was not a cordial one.

Jordan Greer

NBA schedule: Week of Jan. 15 games include full MLK Day lineup, Warriors-Cavs

This week's NBA schedule includes a few highly-anticipated matchups between top teams, including Warriors vs. Cavs and Warriors vs. Rockets.

Skylar Rolstad

NBA Power Rankings: Warriors, Celtics lead way as teams face tough second-half questions

Can the Warriors get the rest they need? Will Gordon Hayward make a shocking comeback for the Celtics? SN's latest NBA Power Rankings tackle second-half questions for every team.

Sean Deveney

Black belt James Johnson, Serge Ibaka trade punches in Heat-Raptors game

Johnson holds a second-degree black belt and has been involved in martial arts since he was about 7.

E.Jay Zarett

NBA schedule: Week of Jan. 8 games include Cavs-Raptors and Warriors-Bucks

A matchup between two Eastern Conference contenders highlights this week's NBA schedule.

Skylar Rolstad

Raptors Ibaka suspended one game for violation of team rules

Ibaka will sit out Raptors game Friday night against Atlanta.

Ryan Young

NBA schedule: Week of Dec. 25 NBA games, including premier Christmas Day matchups

Cavs-Warriors highlights the NBA Christmas Day schedule, but the rest of the week also packs a few must-see games.

Skylar Rolstad

OG Anunoby finds shooting stroke, gives Raptors potential first-round steal

The Raptors knew about OG Anunoby's athleticism and defensive prowess. They had no idea he would be a knockdown shooter his first year in the NBA.

Jordan Greer

NBA Power Rankings: Chris Paul keeps Rockets flying high, Cavs can't be stopped

SN's Sean Deveney examines some subtle trends that have emerged within each team in his latest NBA Power Rankings.

Sean Deveney

NBA All-Star Game 2018: Projecting starters, reserves in competitive Eastern Conference race

Eastern Conference stars like LeBron James and Kyrie Irving are obvious All-Star selections. But which players will take the coveted reserve spots? SN's Sean Deveney gives his All-Star picks for the East.

Sean Deveney

Watch Drake’s postgame interview fail with Raptors' Kyle Lowry

Rap superstar Drake caught up with Raptors guard Kyle Lowry for a postgame interview, only to hold the microphone to his own mouth during Lowry's answer.

Skylar Rolstad

What Up With Stat? Warriors' domination, Kyle Lowry's struggles and more early NBA numbers

The Warriors are crushing opponents in the third quarter, Kyle Lowry can't find his way in the Raptors' offense and Dion Waiters is the NBA's best clutch scorer. (Take all of these numbers with a small sample size grain of salt.)

Jordan Greer

Fultz, Fox, Smith among high draft picks to show potential in NBA debuts

Half of the top 10 picks in this year's draft made their professional debuts on Wednesday. Their stats looked good.

Tom Gatto

DeMar DeRozan slams Skip Bayless after insensitive reaction to Gordon Hayward injury

DeMar DeRozan called out Skip Bayless after the FS1 personality immediately shifted his thoughts to the Eastern Conference crown after Gordon Hayward's gruesome injury.

Skylar Rolstad

Norman Powell agrees to contract extension with Raptors, report says

Powell became a solid bench option for Toronto in 2016-17, two seasons after he was drafted in the second round out of UCLA.

E.Jay Zarett

Raptors' DeRozan, Lowry, Casey, Ujiri respond to Trump comments

The Toronto Raptors held their media annual media day on Monday, where many responded to recent comments made by President Donald Trump.

Evan Sporer

Five awesome Slam Dunk Contest jams you loved to imitate as a kid

Here are five dunks we loved re-enacting then and probably shouldn't try now.

Bill Bender

James Harden is making history while the Rockets go streaking

The Rockets star also had 10 turnovers to go with his triple-double.

Alec Brzezinski

Isaiah Thomas can't be ignored any longer

Thomas scored 38 points to help the Celtics upend Anthony Davis and the Pelicans.

Alec Brzezinski

Raptors quietly developed their own 'Big 3' and now the East should be worried

Lowry made 10 of his 17 shot attempts to help Toronto upend the Jazz.

Alec Brzezinski

When will Raptors get win against NBA's best?

San Antonio led by as many as 34 points in a 110-82 rout that saw Raptors All-Star Kyle Lowry score just six points.

Joe Rodgers

Mike Budenholzer is trying to bring Gregg Popovich flavor to the Hawks

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer earned his first win over his former boss, Gregg Popovich.

Travis Durkee

Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love working just fine as part of Cavs' 'Big Three'

LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving all posted double-doubles against the Celtics. Cleveland held on for the win.

Alec Brzezinski

Fifth Quarter: Dec. 28 results

Jimmy Butler scored nine points in the final 2:30 to match his season high with 40 points, including an 18-foot game-winner.

Joe Rodgers

James Harden having career year

James Harden already has nine games this season with 30 points and 10 assists, one more than he had all of last season.

Arthur Weinstein

Spurs look to start new defensive streak after allowing Harden 31 in win

James Harden snapped an impressive Spurs defensive streak, but San Antonio got the victory anyway.

Alec Brzezinski

Celtics emerging as a threat in the Eastern Conference, finally

The Celtics are finally starting to look like the team everyone expected might challenge the Cavaliers for Eastern Conference supremacy.

Alec Brzezinski

Rockets break NBA 3-point records in 9th straight win

The Rockets and James Harden made history Friday night as Houston topped New Orleans.

Joe Rodgers

Dragic, Whiteside lead Heat to win

Dragic and Whiteside teamed up to outduel John Wall and Bradley Beal in a thrilling showdown.

Alec Brzezinski

Russell Westbrook's triple-double streak puts him in group with MJ, Big O, Wilt

Westbrook became just the fourth player in NBA history to record seven straight triple-doubles.

Alec Brzezinski

Warriors' fab four proving too much to handle on most nights

Draymond Green finished two assists shy of a triple-double in Golden State's win over Utah His other big-name teammates were pretty good, too.

Alec Brzezinski

Cavs upend Raptors in thriller

The Cavs continued their success against Raptors, improving to 3-0 against their new rivals this season.

Alec Brzezinski

Gordon Hayward looking to make serious, loud noise in 2017

After turning in his third straight game of 30-plus points, people may need to start paying attention to the Jazz forward.

Alec Brzezinski

The NBA's next great big man rivalry is here

Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis, two of the NBA's brightest rising stars, had big games in a head-to-head treat Wednesday night.

Brandon Schlager

Westbrook on triple-double streak

The Thunder star recorded his eighth triple-double of the season in Monday's 112-103 win over the Knicks.

Alec Brzezinski

Carmelo Anthony's OT winner sets up Knicks for home-and-home sweep of Hornets

Carmelo Anthony records his first double-double of the season, but he saves his best for last, hitting the game-winner.

Alec Brzezinski

Warriors figure to be in spirit of giving well after holidays

Golden State was dropping dimes all over Oracle Arena. "That shows we're getting more comfortable with each other," Kevin Durant says.

T Gatto and Alec...

Sixers finally win back-to-back

Joel Embiid and the 76ers did something they haven't done in a long time.

Steven J. Gaither

Klay Thompson enjoys beer

Klay Thompson kept it casual after win against Raptors.

Jordan Heck

Drake bumped Kevin Durant during interview on Drake Night, and things got really awkward

Between the run-in and the Doris Burke shirt, it seems like Drake was trying to do a little too much on his big night.

Steven J. Gaither

Drake wears Doris Burke 'Woman Crush Everyday' shirt (UPDATE: Dinner date!)

The Toronto native knows how to cause a stir.

Steven J. Gaither

LeBron, Cavaliers zero in on history after rallying past Raptors

No LeBron James-led team has ever started a season 10-1. His Cavaliers have a chance to become the first after a 121-117 win over Toronto.

Brandon Schlager

Lakers guards a force to be reckoned with in Los Angeles renaissance

D'Angelo Russell, Lou Williams, Jordan Clarkson and Nick Young all scored in double figures in Saturday's win against the Pelicans; Anthony Davis, meanwhile, makes history.

Alec Brzezinski

Joel Embiid set to prove he was worth the wait for the 76ers

The 76ers snapped their 44-game losing streak in the months of October and November.

Alec Brzezinski

Derrick Rose enjoys Chicago return, Knicks look like team with playoff potential

Rose scored 15 points and added 11 assists and seven rebounds. He wasn't the only former Bull who thrived; Joakim Noah had 16 points.

Steven J. Gaither

DeMar DeRozan is playing like Michael Jordan — seriously

The Raptors guard is off to the best scoring start in the past 30 years.

Steven J. Gaither

Russell Westbrook could be too much for Warriors to handle come Thursday's matchup

The Warriors and the Thunder are set to face off Thursday, pitting two former teammates in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook against each other for the first time this season.

Ron Clements

Could LeBron James take smaller role with Cavs?

Kyrie Irving hit a key 3-pointer to help the Cavaliers beat the Raptors in a repeat of last season's Eastern Conference championship. He could take some of the load off King James.

Alec Brzezinski

DeRozan unhappy with SI

Sports Illustrated didn't rank DeMar DeRozan very high, and he's not pleased.

Jordan Heck

'Gangster' Raptors fan ejected from playoff game was killed in Toronto

Sukh Deo, 34, was driving a white Range Rover when two men gunned him down and fled the scene.

Travis Durkee

Raptors looking to lock down DeMar DeRozan and coach Dwane Casey

The Raptors are hoping to keep the gang together, especially coach Dwane Casey and All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan.

Steven J. Gaither

LeBron James promises to enjoy NBA Finals this time

The kid from Akron, Ohio, has been in the national limelight over half his life, but he has rarely been emotionally available to us.

Steven J. Gaither

2016 NBA Finals schedule: Dates, TV, times

The Cavs await the winner of the Thunder-Warriors Western Conference finals series.

Steven J. Gaither

DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph's Game 5 casino visit means nothing

Two Raptors are criticized for going to a casino prior to their game.

Jordan Heck

Home court remains a big advantage in Cavaliers-Raptors series

The Cavaliers continued their dominance of the Raptors on U.S. soil Wednesday night.

Steven J. Gaither

Dikembe Mutombo to Bismack Biyombo: Wag all you want

Mutombo said he and Biyombo are "brothers" and the Raptors center can finger wag all he wants.

Gabrielle McMillen

Drake trolls Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving after Raptors tie series

The rap artist and Raptors fan took to his Instagram account to thank Kyrie Irving for his play in Games 3 and 4 in Toronto.

Bob Hille

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