Raptors Host Pelicans in Friday Matchup

Toronto looks to bounce back from loss to Clippers as New Orleans visits Scotiabank Arena

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:57am

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The Toronto Raptors (40-32) will host the New Orleans Pelicans (25-48) on Friday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors are coming off a 119-94 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Pelicans most recently fell to the New York Knicks 121-116. Zion Williamson had 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the Pelicans' loss, while Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 18 points in their defeat.

Why it matters

This game features two teams heading in opposite directions, as the Raptors look to solidify their playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, while the Pelicans are playing out the string in a disappointing season. The Raptors will be looking to bounce back at home after a lopsided loss to the Clippers, while the Pelicans hope to pull off an upset on the road.

The details

The Raptors struggled in their last game, allowing the Clippers to shoot 51.2% from the field and pull down 56 rebounds. Toronto will need to tighten up defensively against a Pelicans team that has been inconsistent this season, but can be dangerous when Zion Williamson is playing well. The Pelicans will look to limit turnovers and get contributions from their supporting cast around Williamson to pull off the road win.

  • The game will take place on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.

The players

Zion Williamson

The star forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, Williamson had 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the team's last game.

Brandon Ingram

The Raptors' leading scorer in their last game, Ingram recorded 18 points, 4 assists and 6 rebounds against the Clippers.

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What they’re saying

“We must bounce back and play much better defensively if we want to get back in the win column.”

— Nick Nurse, Head Coach, Toronto Raptors

“Zion was a bright spot for us, but we need more production from the rest of the roster to compete with a team like the Raptors.”

— Willie Green, Head Coach, New Orleans Pelicans

What’s next

The Raptors will look to bounce back in this home matchup against the Pelicans, while New Orleans hopes to pull off the road upset and build some momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

The takeaway

This game features a Raptors team looking to solidify their playoff positioning against a struggling Pelicans squad. Toronto will need to tighten up defensively after their lopsided loss to the Clippers, while New Orleans will rely on Zion Williamson to lead the way in an attempt to pull off the road upset.