The Toronto Raptors’ 2020-2021 season came to an end on May 20th with a 125-113 loss to the Washington Wizards in the NBA Play-In Tournament. The Raptors finished the regular season with a record of 27-45, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-2013 season.
The Raptors’ season was plagued by injuries and COVID-19 protocols, with key players such as Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet missing significant time throughout the year. Despite these challenges, the team showed resilience and fought until the very end.
In the Play-In Tournament game against the Wizards, the Raptors struggled defensively and were unable to contain Washington’s star duo of Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook. Beal scored 25 points while Westbrook recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists.
Offensively, the Raptors were led by Siakam, who scored a team-high 21 points. VanVleet added 20 points, while Lowry chipped in with 18 points and seven assists.
While the loss marks the end of the Raptors’ season, there were still some positives to take away from the year. Rookie guard Malachi Flynn showed promise in his limited playing time, while Chris Boucher emerged as a key contributor off the bench. The team also saw improvement from second-year player Terence Davis and third-year center Chris Boucher.
Looking ahead, the Raptors will have some important decisions to make this offseason. Lowry, who is set to become a free agent, could potentially leave the team after nine seasons in Toronto. The team will also have to decide whether to bring back veteran forward and fan favorite, Kyle Lowry.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future, Raptors fans can take solace in the fact that their team never gave up this season. The team fought through injuries and adversity and showed that they have the talent and determination to compete at a high level in the future.
