By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Toronto Raptors secured their return to the postseason with a commanding 136-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, completing a remarkable turnaround under Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic.
Finishing the 2025-26 Regular Season with a 46-36 record, the Raptors achieved a sixteen-win improvement over the previous year to claim the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. The clinching performance was defined by clinical efficiency, as Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett combined for 69 points on just 36 field-goal attempts. The victory sets up a matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
The milestone carries historic weight for the Cacak native, who becomes the first European head coach to lead an NBA team into the playoffs. Despite the significance, the Serbian strategist remained humble, stating, “Well, there aren’t many of us, it’s no huge accomplishment.”
He was quick to credit the legacy of those who preceded him during his postgame press conference, adding, “So many players, so many coaches from ex-Yugoslavia, especially Serbia, made this path possible for me. Without all those successes of the national team, the successes of the clubs, of individual successes, of players and then coaches, I would never be in this position or here.”
This playoff berth was bolstered by a diverse international roster, including Austrian starter Jakob Poeltl, who shot a perfect 5-of-5 for 11 points, and Georgian reserve Sandro Mamukelashvili, who added nine points off the bench.
On the opposing side, Spanish head coach Jordi Fernandez dealt with a depleted lineup to complete the 82-game schedule, while Israeli starter Ben Saraf contributed 15 points. His side was without Russia’s Egor Demin, France’s Nolan Traore, and Israel’s Danny Wolf due to various injuries.
Read the latest News
Read the full article here
