The Toronto Raptors have secured the sixth-worst record in the NBA with a loss to the Miami Heat on Friday.
The Raptors now have the 6th best lottery odds in this upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. They will have a 45.8 percent chance of keeping its first-round pick which is top-6 protected.
The Heat had a lot to play for in this one and did not let up. The Heat never trailed, built an 11-point lead after one quarter and extended it to 19 before leading 66-50 at the half. The lead for Miami eventually reached 25.
Miami can still finish as high as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers are all 46-35, meanwhile the Heat are 45-36 going into the final day of the regular season on April 14.
The bright spot in this loss for Toronto was RJ Barrett. He scored 35 points and had a season-high 11 rebound. Immanuel Quickley scored 15 points and Bruce Brown scored 14.
The Raptors lost for the 18th time in 20 games. It has been a season to forget for them. Their loss against Miami has ensured that Toronto (25-56) will finish the season with the fifth-worst mark in franchise history, regardless of the outcome on Sunday.
It will be Toronto’s worst season since going 22-60 in 2010-11.
The Raptors will now turn their attention to May 12 when the NBA Draft Lottery takes place. Toronto will be hoping that their pick falls inside the top-6. If it falls outside of the top-6 then it will go to the San Antonio Spurs via the Jakob Poeltl trade.
Next on tap
The Raptors will close out their 2023-24 season with another matchup against the Heat on April 14.
This will be an important game for the Heat as they try and avoid the Play-In Tournament, meanwhile for the Raptors this will be their final game until the fall.
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