Raptors Playoff Picture: Avoiding the Knicks Key for Toronto

Raptors' final regular season game will determine first-round matchup

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:08am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes, conveying the intensity and strategic complexity of the potential Raptors-Knicks playoff series.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes playoff matchup between the Raptors and Knicks, highlighting the physical and strategic challenges Toronto faces in avoiding this potential first-round clash.Today in Miami

The Toronto Raptors are heading into the final game of the regular season with their playoff positioning still not fully locked in. Toronto will finish either fifth or sixth in the Eastern Conference, and that final position will determine a crucial first-round matchup.

Why it matters

Facing the New York Knicks in the first round would present a much tougher challenge for the Raptors compared to playing the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks' physical style and defensive identity directly target many of Toronto's weaknesses, while the Cavaliers are a more favorable stylistic matchup.

The details

If the Raptors finish as the sixth seed, they will face the Knicks in the first round. If they move up to the fifth seed, they would instead face the Cavaliers. The Knicks play a very physical brand of basketball, are strong on the boards, and can disrupt Toronto's offense. In contrast, the Cavaliers rely more on half-court execution, which better suits the Raptors' strengths.

  • The Raptors' final regular season game will determine their playoff positioning.
  • The Raptors need help from the Atlanta Hawks, who must lose to the Miami Heat, for Toronto to move up to the fifth seed.

The players

Toronto Raptors

An NBA team based in Toronto, Canada, that is heading into the playoffs.

New York Knicks

An NBA team based in New York City that the Raptors could face in the first round if they finish as the sixth seed.

Cleveland Cavaliers

An NBA team based in Cleveland, Ohio that the Raptors could face in the first round if they move up to the fifth seed.

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What’s next

The Raptors must win their final regular season game and hope the Atlanta Hawks lose to the Miami Heat for Toronto to move up to the fifth seed and avoid facing the Knicks in the first round.

The takeaway

The difference between facing the Knicks and the Cavaliers in the first round could define the Raptors' playoff run. Avoiding the physical, defensive-minded Knicks is crucial for Toronto's chances of advancing deep into the postseason.