How Raptors upcoming road trip impacts 2023 NBA Playoff push: Wizards, West Coast matchups loom large

The Raptors are starting to heat up at just the right time.

With the trade deadline and the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, the focus shifts to the Eastern Conference playoff push with less than 20 games remaining in the season.

Toronto was expected to be a seller as of deadline, but instead acquired starting center Jakob Poeltl and the team hasn’t looked back since. They have won eight of their last 10 games and are 5-2 since adding Poeltl to the lineup, solidifying in the East play-in picture.

After clinching a massive win over the Bulls on Tuesday, the Raptors will embark on a crucial five-game road trip, beginning with two games in Washington and ending with two games in Los Angeles.

How will Toronto’s road trip affect his playoff push? The Sporting News has you covered below.

NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign In Now to Watch Every Game (FREE 7-Day Trial)

Raptor’s upcoming schedule

Thursday 2nd March & Saturday 4th March – at Wizards

The Wizards start playing some of their best basketball games of the season when they need it most. Before the All-Star break, Washington had 10 wins in 14 games to break into the East play-in picture.

Washington currently holds 10th place — they are a game behind the Raptors in ninth place and have a 1.5-game lead over the Bulls in 11th place.

MORE: Why a top-eight finish could make all the difference if Raptors make the playoffs

Aside from sitting side-by-side in standings, these games are crucial for the Raptors and Wizards as their head-to-head tiebreak is yet to be won.

Toronto and Washington have yet to play each other this season, leaving three matchups on the home stretch of the season to decide who wins the tiebreaker in potential seeding scenarios.

Both games should have a playoff atmosphere.

Monday March 6th – at Nuggets

Taking on the No. 1 Seed Nuggets on the street will be a tough test for the Raptors.

Superstar center Nikola Jokic is the frontrunner to win his third straight MVP award, with an average triple-double of 24.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game. Incredibly, Jokic has recorded a triple-double in 15 (!) of his last 20 games.

This is exactly the kind of matchup that explains why the Raptors picked Poeltl on deadline day, giving Toronto a big man who can hold his own against some of the league’s best centers.

Wednesday March 8th – at Clippers

The Clippers are 0-3 since they pulled Russell Westbrook out of the buyout market, but Kawhi Leonard has shaken off the rust and is looking like him again. In his last five games, Leonard averaged 29.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks on .547/.576/.929 shooting splits.

The Raptors will have their hands full trying to contain their former Finals MVP.

Friday, March 10 – at Lakers

Sitting outside the play-in picture in the West, the Lakers need every win they can get. LeBron James is unlikely to be back in time for that meeting with the Raptors as the superstar forward is out indefinitely with a foot injury.

The player to keep an eye on in this case is Anthony Davis, who is also struggling with a nagging foot injury. Los Angeles will have three days off before this meeting with Toronto, so Davis should be available to play. If he’s not, it might be an easier matchup for the Raptors to end their road trip.

Raptor’s remaining strength of the schedule

According to the Tankathon, the Raptors have the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA. Take a look at some of their toughest and easiest remaining opponents.

• The hardest: Bucks (x2), Celtics (x2), Nuggets (x2), 76ers, Heat, Clippers
• The easiest: Wizards (x3), Hornets (x2), Pistons, Pacers, Thunder, Lakers

Below are the next five games on the Toronto schedule

Date	Opponent	time (ET)
2nd March	at Wizards	19 o’clock
4th of March	at Wizards	17 o’clock
6th March	at nuggets	21 clock
8th of March	at Clippers	22 O `clock
March 10th	at Lakers	10:30 p.m

Raptor’s NBA Playoff Odds

Before the Raptors defeated the Bulls, FiveThirtyEight’s model gave Toronto a 45 percent chance of qualifying for the playoffs. After the win, the Raptors’ playoff ratings jumped to 48 percent as they are now expected to finish seventh in the East with a 41-41 record.