Raptors clinch 1st playoff berth since 2022, jump Hawks for East's 5th seed

The Toronto Raptors are heading to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign.

Toronto leapfrogged the Atlanta Hawks for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference following its blowout win Sunday over the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics' narrow comeback win over the Orlando Magic.

Both the Raptors and Hawks finished with an identical 46-36 record, but Toronto received the higher seed after sweeping the head-to-head matchups.

Scottie Barnes led the way for the Raptors with 18 points, 12 boards, and 12 assists for his third triple-double of the season.

The Raptors' victory kept the Magic in the play-in tournament, where they'll go on the road and take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the 7-8 game.

Toronto will square off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round of the postseason. The Raptors won all three regular-season meetings, but haven't played against one another since November.

Cleveland's roster has changed dramatically with the mid-season acquisitions of James Harden, Keon Ellis, and Dennis Schroder.