After an embarrassing loss to the Sacramento Kings on the same night that the 76ers beat the Wizards, the Raptors found themselves in seventh place in the Eastern Conference—outside of the top six and in the dreaded play-in picture they worked so hard to avoid earlier in the season. The Raptors and 76ers have an identical 42-34 record, but the 76ers own the tiebreaker because they did something the Raptors couldn’t: regularly beat some of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors and the 76ers split their season series 2-2. So, the tiebreaker between them comes down to the division record. They play in the Atlantic Division, which has been the toughest one in the Eastern Conference this season. It features two of the top three teams in the conference with the Celtics and Knicks and more teams with their eyes on the playoffs than the other two divisions in the east.
So, the Raptors’ and 76ers’ division records came down to their ability to keep up with the Celtics and Knicks. The Raptors failed to do that all season long, compiling a 0-7 record against the two teams so far. The 76ers, meanwhile, beat them twice each, and that difference could very well decide if the Raptors have to fight through the play-in tournament or not.
The Raptors have no chance to change the tiebreaker situation with the 76ers
The Raptors still have three games against division opponents left, while the 76ers are done. But, even if the Raptors won all three games against the Celtics, Knicks, and Nets—which is a big if—they wouldn’t be able to match the 76ers’ nine wins.
The Raptors’ only hope is to take care of business in the last six games of the season and make sure that their place in the standings doesn’t come down to a tiebreaker with Philadelphia. The four games against the Grizzlies, Heat, and Nets are must-win games. A victory or two against the Celtics and Knicks also wouldn’t hurt.
Even though the 123-115 loss to the Kings—the worst team in the Western Conference—may have made it seem like the Raptors’ regular season would inevitably end in disappointment, there’s still hope. The 76ers have a very difficult four-game stretch with matchups against Minnesota, Detroit, San Antonio, and Houston coming up that could allow the Raptors to jump them in the win column.
Moreover, the Hawks’ 1.5-game lead over the Raptors is far from insurmountable.