The Toronto Raptors are gearing up for the 2026-27 NBA season as their schedule has been officially released, although their roster remains uncertain. The season opener will take place at home on October 21, where the Raptors will face Norman Powell and the Chicago Bulls. This announcement was made Thursday, coinciding with the NBA's unveiling of the full season slate.
In addition to the opening day schedule, the NBA has also released plans for Christmas Day and other key dates, including the NBA Cup groupings. Notably, the Raptors will not participate in games on December 25, nor will they play on Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Presidents' Day—two prominent holidays on the NBA calendar.
This season, teams will play a total of 82 games, but only 80 of those have been announced, with the final two spots left to be determined by the NBA Cup. The Raptors have been grouped with the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, and Brooklyn Nets for this competition.
The uncertainty surrounding the roster is underlined by the ongoing Kawhi Leonard trade situation, which remains on hold. Fans will still have an opportunity to see how the Raptors perform early in the season, especially when they face the Los Angeles Clippers on November 2. The Clippers will return to Toronto on January 1 for a New Year’s match-up.
Key dates on the Raptors' schedule include multiple significant matchups over the season. The reigning champion New York Knicks will visit Toronto for back-to-back games on November 15 and 17. Raptors' followers will also witness LeBron James in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform for the first time on November 12, with the Sixers making their first appearance in Toronto later on January 10.
Another interesting encounter will be a rematch against last season's first-round opponent, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in Cleveland on January 5. This matchup promises to draw attention as both teams look to assert their dominance early in the season.
Additionally, fans can look forward to the return of Masai Ujiri and the Dallas Mavericks to Toronto on January 27. One of the highly anticipated games will occur on December 16 when Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs make their only visit to Toronto this season. Furthermore, two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to Scotiabank Arena on March 10.
On the logistics side, the Raptors will have a demanding schedule, highlighted by their longest homestand, which involves six consecutive games stretching from January 7 to January 15. Conversely, they will also undergo an extended six-game road trip that will begin in Utah on March 21 and conclude in Detroit on March 31. This aspect of the schedule will be crucial as the Raptors aim to build momentum heading into the second half of the season.
Overall, the Raptors have an exciting array of games lined up for the upcoming season, offering various opportunities to monitor roster developments and team dynamics as the season progresses.
