The Toronto Raptors played a deplorable brand of basketball in their “loss” to the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday night, and it deserves a few minutes to highlight their actions.
With (nearly) every team under 30 wins focused on, well, “not winning games,” jockeying to increase their odds of drafting possible future stars Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, or Ace Bailey in the 2025 NBA Draft, the 24-win Raptors probably saw an opportunity.
Earlier Sunday, the 76ers beat the Mavericks for their 23rd win. The Sixers suddenly found themselves within one win of being tied with Toronto for sixth in the lottery.