It’s been at least three years since the Raptors have played a game as important as they will play Tuesday night.

Not only will the Knicks game introduce this group to a sudden-death situation, something Toronto hasn’t faced since a play-in game in 2023, the chance to experience the preparation needed for a semifinal on Saturday and the intensity of that game would only help in a playoff race later this season.

A win could not be better given what they’ve been going through, providing them with an opportunity to recover from the recent grind and show themselves to be legitimate players in the bigger picture.

After a grind of six games in nine days — five of them defeats, the final punctuated by a loss to Boston on Sunday afternoon — the schedule eases and the chance to impress incre

See Full Page