Banged up Raptors closing in on playoff spot - BERITAJA

TORONTO – Everyone connected the Toronto Raptors is hurting but, pinch 3 regular-season games near connected the schedule and the last playoff spot theirs for the taking, they’re playing done it.

Scottie Barnes had 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists arsenic Toronto earned a captious 121-95 triumph complete the Miami Heat connected Tuesday. According to caput coach Darko Rajakovic, Barnes took a stiff changeable to his ribs successful the Raptors’ 115-101 nonaccomplishment to the Boston Celtics 2 days earlier.

“I’ve been banged up, but, you know, you’ve conscionable sewage to play done it,” said Barnes aft the triumph complete Miami. “Can’t really attraction connected that, conscionable effort to play pinch your encephalon and effort to make judge that you consciousness arsenic bully arsenic possible. Trick yourself successful that way.

“But conscionable spell retired location and play pinch a batch of effort, play pinch a batch of energy, get better, and conscionable effort to win.”

Toronto (44-35) tightened its grip connected the sixth and last playoff spot successful the Eastern Conference pinch the win.

Miami (41-38) was 10th successful the East, holding the 4th seed successful the conference’s play-in tournament, 3 games backmost of the Raptors.

The 2 teams meet again Thursday astatine Scotiabank Arena.

Immanuel Quickley (plantar fasciitis, correct foot), Sandro Mamukelashvili (left knee soreness) and rookie centre Collin Murray-Boyles (right quad contusion) were each game-time decisions, but were made disposable to play for Toronto little than an hr earlier the opening tipoff.

“Long season, man. It’s hard. It’s tough,” said Murray-Boyles, who had six points and 8 rebounds but was plus-17 against Miami. “Obviously, this is for illustration 3 (collegiate) seasons, each balled into one.

“Definitely tough, but I deliberation it helps maine for the future, knowing really to really hole myself for these type of moments, particularly astatine the extremity of this season.”

Murray-Boyles had 2 blocks and a bargain arsenic the Raptors turned successful an awesome protect showing.

The Heat person been held to less than 100 points conscionable six times this season, but 3 of those times were against Toronto.

On apical of dealing pinch his right-quad contusion, Murray-Boyles has been managing a sprained near thumb passim the season. Although it takes a beating successful each rebound, block, bargain and deflection, the 20-year-old said he has nary volition of slowing down.

“I wouldn’t beryllium playing if I did that. That’s my identity, being aggressive,” said Murray-Boyles. “You know, being a protect (seed) disease retired there, being progressive and worldly for illustration that, that’s what I made a sanction disconnected of.

“I person to do it.”

Quickley started against Miami, scoring 3 points and adding 4 assists and 4 rebounds successful 18 minutes of play.

Rajakovic said that, contempt the ascendant triumph complete the Heat, Toronto still isn’t playing to the champion of its abilities.

“Because we’re really banged up still,” he said. “Several guys played banged up, played done a batch of pain.

“That’s the NBA. That’s the portion of the play we’re in.”

This study by BERITAJA was first published April 8, 2026.