March 12, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is dribbling the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Ben Shepherd (26) plays defense in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The struggling Toronto Raptors will be hoping to turn things around and avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
The Raptors have lost six of eight following a 122-111 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
In New Orleans, the Raptors went on a 10-2 fourth quarter run to get within two points with 10:15 left. The Pelicans took over the game from there, leading by 18 with 1:25 remaining.
“I thought we were getting good looks, but we couldn’t get our shots off,” Toronto coach Darko Rajkovic said.
The Raptors never fully recovered when they fell behind 33-25 in the third quarter.
“We are not playing our best basketball right now,” Razakovic said. “It’s all in our control – how we respond and how we stay together. All the keys are in our hands. The season is long. Every team goes through slumps when things don’t go our way. We’re just in the middle of it now. We know how to get out of it.”
Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points for Toronto on Wednesday and Brandon Ingram added 22.
With this loss, the Raptors fell to 7th place in the Eastern Conference.
“We’re going through some tough times, but I think it’s going to bring us more together,” Ingram said. “We have to figure it out, what’s best for us offensively and defensively, we just have to play a little harder and get the best result.”
The Suns won their fourth straight title with a 123-108 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. Devin Booker scored a season-high 43 points and Jalen Green added a season-high 36 points for the Suns, who have won six of seven. They are 2-0 to begin a six-game road trip.
Booker and Green provided a significant portion of the scoring during the winning streak.
Green has played in just 18 games for the Suns this season, mostly due to a hamstring injury.
“Part of it is Jalen getting into more of a rhythm,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “We felt like he needed some time to learn how to play with each other.”
Booker scored 19 points in the third quarter and Green scored 17 points in the fourth quarter.
“It’s special to see that,” said Royce O’Neill, who scored 15 points for Phoenix. “They’re starting to find themselves out of rhythm with each other. They can get hot really quick. Devin on third down, Jalen blocking us. I think it’s going to be a difficult challenge for other teams trying to guard those two, especially with our spacing.”
“There’s going to be a lot of focus on Book as it launches,” Green said. “There are a lot of opportunities. Once you adapt and everyone starts, it’s pretty hard to stop.”
After Wednesday’s loss, the Raptors faced criticism for their lack of response to New Orleans’ Dejounte Murray taunting Toronto’s Jamal Shead after making a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t give too much away,” Razakovic said. “Guys are competitive. What Murray did was pretty good overall, but you have to see it on film. I don’t want to make it any more than it already is.”
Toronto’s Scotty Barnes (illness) is listed as questionable for Friday’s game.
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