Much-needed Raptors evolution will be absolutely invaluable in the playoffs

This is the best team the Raptors have had in a few seasons. They already exceeded their win totals of the 2024-25 and 2023-24 seasons and are in a position to return to the playoffs. The Raptors have also learned how to win on the road. With 20 road wins already, they have won more away games than in any of the last three seasons and are on track to win more road games than in the last two seasons combined. 

The ability to win on the road will be invaluable in the playoffs. Considering the current playoff picture, Toronto will very likely go into its first-round matchup as the lower seed. That means its opponent will have home court advantage, and the Raptors will have to win on the road.

Knowing that they have done that rather reliably so far this season provides a much-needed confidence boost for the postseason. 

The Raptors got some important road wins

The Raptors beat three of the teams close to them in the standings on their home court. They took down the Atlanta Hawks in decisive wins early in the season—although that team looks much different now—and handed the Cleveland Cavaliers, which would be their first-round matchup if the playoffs started today, two losses at home in October and November. 

The Raptors also beat the Heat in Miami twice in December and will have to defend home court in April to clinch the season series win. 

Toronto’s most impressive road win was a 103-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder thanks to a big block by Scottie Barnes on Chet Holmgren and clutch 3-point and free-throw shooting from Immanuel Quickley. Beating the Thunder is always impressive, but even more so when you do it on their home court. The Thunder have only lost six home games all season long and lead the league in that category. 

The Raptors struggled on the road in previous seasons

The Raptors didn’t finish any of the last three seasons with a winning record. The closest they got was a 41-41 record in the 2022-23 season. They still missed the playoffs, though. 

Over that stretch, the Raptors struggled especially on the road. Last season, they finished with a 12-19 record on the road. The season prior, they won 11 games and lost 30 away from Toronto. In the 2022-23 season, the Raptors went 14-27 on the road, compared to a 27-14 record at home. 

Those struggles seem to be largely behind the Raptors. However, they have struggled to beat good teams all season long, and doing it on the road in the playoffs is an entirely different monster.