November 2025 was a glorious month for the Raptors last season. After a slow 2-4 start in October, they went 12-3 the next month, boasting a stellar winning percentage of 80.0 percent. That stretch included a nine-game winning streak that grabbed the attention of the basketball world — and, of course, Raptors Nation. However, while many fans and analysts were certainly hyped about this surge of success, it was wise to take it with a grain of salt.
Some of Toronto’s more matchable opponents during that run were dealing with key injuries, or their convincing wins came against ‘weaker’ competition. Still, there was plenty to celebrate, as the Raptors were quickly climbing the East standings and making serious noise for themselves. Mind you, this was a team that entered the year with pretty modest expectations — or, according to some publications, was almost counted out entirely.
Earlier this week, the Raptors’ 2026-27 regular season schedule dropped, and looking at their November lineup, it’s clear Toronto will face heavy hitters during that slate. Of course, we’re just analyzing this schedule at face value right now. We obviously can’t predict injuries, missing pieces, or surprises, especially with Kawhi Leonard’s status still up in the air — particularly as we look ahead to an intriguing early November matchup against the Clippers.
Raptors' road to another impressive November looks more challenging this year
Toronto is scheduled for 14 games in November (eight home games, six on the road), starting with a three-game West Coast trip against the Lakers, the aforementioned Clippers, and Nuggets. The rest of the month features matchups against the Bucks, Grizzlies, Celtics, 76ers, reigning-champion Knicks in two-straight games, Wizards, Pistons, and Nets. November is also a key month for the NBA Cup, with three group play matchups: against the Bucks early in the month, and then the Pistons and Nets later on. Last November, the Raptors went a perfect 3-0 in their group stage, finishing 4-0 overall and advancing to the Cup’s knockout stage before being eliminated.
Now, from a power-ranking and optimistic perspective, it’s easy to see the Raptors being expected betting favorites against teams like the Bucks, Grizzlies, and Nets — mostly because they are in rebuilding/retooling stages or ‘weaker’ on-paper. Meanwhile, teams like the Lakers, Clippers, Celtics, Pistons, Wizards, and Nuggets are more of a wildcard. Toronto could handle them accordingly, but they definitely won’t be pushovers — especially within the competitive Eastern Conference landscape, where Boston and Detroit still pose a threat.Â
The real tests, however, come against the Knicks and 76ers. The back-to-back schedule against New York is particularly notable: they are the defending champs, and it’ll give us a good glimpse into Toronto’s ability to compete with the league’s top tier. As I’ve mentioned recently, the Sixers also stand out as a heated rival for the Raptors next season. Even though their November meeting is just a single game, it may reveal a lot about Toronto’s potential playoff chances against this highly-touted, stacked squad.
Last November, the Raptors only lost to Philly, Charlotte, and New York. This year, the schedule is much tougher, which might throw a wrench in those plans to produce another November to remember. At the same time, I wouldn’t count out the Raptors’ potential to defy pre-season expectations. They definitely had their coming-out party from that box last year, so who’s to say they can’t do it again?
But a major factor that could help replicate that magic is finally having the Kawhi Leonard situation resolved by then. That trade hold-up has serious implications for the Raptors’ overall competitiveness. If Kawhi ends up suspended for most of the season or remains unavailable due to the ongoing investigation, their success in November and beyond will rely solely on the pieces they have in play — and that's not a scenario with nearly as much upside.
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