The Toronto Raptors had a chance to keep their momentum going Sunday night. Instead, things unraveled in a frustrating 120 to 98 loss to the Phoenix Suns on March 22, 2026 in Phoenix.
This one is a tough one to explain if you only look at the season numbers. On paper, the Raptors had the advantage in several categories and had already beaten Phoenix earlier in the month. The reality on the court was very different.
Phoenix came out flying and never let Toronto settle into the game.
The Suns jumped out to a 28 to 12 lead early and finished the first quarter ahead 34 to 20. Toronto briefly pushed back with a run in the second quarter, though Phoenix quickly regained control and carried a 66 to 48 lead into halftime.
Things only got worse after the break. Phoenix extended the lead to as much as 31 points in the third quarter and never allowed the Raptors to seriously threaten. The starters for both teams spent much of the fourth quarter resting once the result was essentially decided.
The biggest difference was Phoenix’s shooting and Toronto’s mistakes. The Suns shot over 51 percent from the field and knocked down 18 three pointers. Toronto also committed 20 turnovers which repeatedly gave Phoenix extra possessions and easy points.
Toronto struggled to find consistent offense all night.
Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 17 points and tried to spark some energy during the second quarter run. RJ Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter each added 13 points. Immanuel Quickley finished with 11 points while Gradey Dick chipped in 10 points.
One of the biggest surprises was the quiet night from Brandon Ingram. After averaging close to 26 points over his previous five games, Ingram was limited to just 6 points on 3 of 10 shooting. When a primary scorer struggles like that it becomes very difficult for the offense to keep up.
Phoenix had several players step up offensively.
Devin Booker led all scorers with 25 points and also helped control the offense throughout the game. Jalen Green added 20 points and hit several big shots during the early run that set the tone. Collin Gillespie contributed 16 points while Jordan Goodwin added 14. Ryan Dunn finished with 12 points and Rasheer Fleming chipped in with 11 as the Suns received strong production across the lineup.
What Happened Here
This loss really comes down to three things:
- Phoenix shot extremely well from three-point range and built momentum early. Toronto struggled to slow them down defensively.
- Turnovers hurt the Raptors all night. Twenty giveaways created too many easy opportunities for the Suns.
- The Raptors offense never found a rhythm. When Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley are all producing the team usually competes well. That balance was missing in this game.
Where the Raptors Stand in the East
After the loss Toronto sits at 39 wins and 31 losses. The Raptors remain firmly in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, though the race is tight as the regular season moves toward the final stretch.
First place in the East is still several games away. Teams like Boston and Milwaukee have held the top spots for most of the season. Toronto would need a significant winning streak combined with those teams dropping games to realistically close that gap.
At this stage the bigger focus is playoff seeding and finishing the season strong.
What Needs To Happen
Consistency has to return quickly.
Strong scoring nights from RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Ingram have been the foundation of Toronto’s recent success. When those three are attacking and Immanuel Quickley is controlling the offense, the Raptors can compete with anyone.
Defensive focus also needs to improve. Allowing hot shooting teams to get comfortable early makes games very difficult to recover.
Losses like this are frustrating, especially against a team Toronto had already beaten earlier this month. The good news is there are still games left to build momentum before the playoffs arrive.
Raptors fans are still hoping this group can put together one strong run at the right time.
👏 Let’s Go Raptors 👏
