Raptors relishing resurgence, shift focus to keeping Bulls down

Having already eclipsed last season's win total, the Toronto Raptors find themselves firmly entrenched in the race for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Winners of seven of their last 11 games, the Raptors return to action following the All-Star break on Thursday when they visit the reeling Chicago Bulls.

Toronto resides in fifth place in the Eastern Conference this season after finishing 22 games under .500 in 2024-25.

While pleased with the turnaround, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster says he's focused on the road ahead.

"We haven't accomplished anything yet, right? And so I think that's sort of why you sort of withhold a lot of your thoughts or reflections," Webster said, per the Toronto Star.

"These are all nice moments, right? Having Scottie (Barnes) an All-Star, Brandon (Ingram) being at the All-Star Game, having our rookies (Collin Murray-Boyles and Alijah Martin) there, having Darko (Rajakovic) coach.

"But ... we want to win (big) here and if that happens then you have a platform, then people care about what you say. Until that, I think we're sort of just enjoying the excitement and growth of this team."

Ingram, who averages a team-best 21.8 points per game, was invited to the All-Star Game as a replacement for Golden State Warriors standout Stephen Curry.

Barnes contributes 19.3 points to go along with team highs in rebounds (8.4), blocks (1.6) and steals (1.3) for the Raptors.

Ingram scored 33 points and Immanuel Quickley added 24 in Toronto's 123-107 home victory over Chicago on Feb. 5.

The new-look Bulls were led in that game by Anfernee Simons, Matas Buzelis and Guerschon Yabusele. Simons scored 22 points in his first game since being acquired from the Boston Celtics, while Yabusele collected 15 points and 11 rebounds in his team debut.

Simons has averaged 16.8 points in four games with Chicago, while Yabusele has contributed 10.8 points in that same stretch after averaging just 2.7 while coming off the bench with the New York Knicks.

As for Buzelis, he scored 18 points in that game and is averaging 15.2 points this season -- a significant uptick from the 8.6 he contributed in 2024-25.

"I know what I can do on the court," Buzelis said. "I don't try to take my shot. I try to impact winning as much as possible. I wouldn't say I have to do more (given the rash of trades by the Bulls). But there definitely is some extra (responsibility) I have on the court. It's all about the situations you are put into and sometimes you do have to make something happen on the court. I do believe I can do that, but I also believe a lot of those guys can do that."

Chicago anxiously is awaiting the return of guards Josh Giddey and Tre Jones from their respective left hamstring injuries.

Giddey, who last played on Jan. 28, boasts team-leading averages in points per game (18.6) and assists (8.8).

Sidelined since Jan. 22, Jones averages a team-leading 1.3 steals per contest.

The status of Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is unknown after his father, Bill, passed away on Feb. 14 at the age of 85.

--Field Level Media