Consecutive wins over the Suns and Pistons got Raptors fans excited—and for good reason. The Raptors finally looked ready to compete with strong teams and seemed on track to strengthen their hold on their coveted place in the standings.
They had all of the momentum they needed to close out the season on a high note. Even a 121-115 loss to the Nuggets didn’t really dampen the hopes for this team. They competed in a playoff-like atmosphere against a proven team built around one of the best players in the world. That’s not an easy thing to do for a young team with a relatively new core.
The precious momentum from the wins over Phoenix and Detroit quickly disappeared when the Suns got revenge with a 120-98 win and the Clippers beat the Raptors 119-94, causing them to fall to sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
While there are still ten games left in the regular season and the Raptors’ playoff hopes are very much alive, it feels like the team missed an opportunity. The Raptors worked hard for those momentum-changing wins against the Suns and Pistons, and then just let the momentum slip through their fingers instead of building on it.
The Raptors have another chance to build momentum
Things may seem bleak after another bad loss, falling in the standings, and not knowing when Immanuel Quickley will be back on the court, but the season is far from over. The Raptors still have time to build momentum before they embark on their first trip to the playoffs with their current core of Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett.
The next three games offer the perfect opportunity to string together some encouraging wins and regain the momentum they just lost. Getting revenge against the Pelicans, who handed the Raptors a bad loss earlier this month, would energize players and fans alike, especially if it is followed by a win over the Magic—one of the teams chasing the Raptors in the standings.
The cherry on top would be beating Detroit for a second time this season. Since the Raptors don’t have a great track record when it comes to beating the top teams in the league, each win against one of those teams builds confidence for the playoffs, even if the Pistons are without Cade Cunningham.
The Raptors will need momentum and confidence to survive their four-game stretch against the Celtics, Heat, and Knicks in April.