August 23, 2026
August 23, 2026
2013-14 Toronto Raptors: Finding the Right Mix
For the previous few seasons the Toronto Raptors were a franchise on the mend, trying to build themselves back into a position to compete in the playoffs on a more regular basis. It had been since the 2007-08 NBA season that the Raptors last saw the playoffs, and in their rebuilding years they experienced plenty of downs. During the course of the 2013-14 Toronto Raptors season, however, the team finally experienced more uplifting moments.
In the 2013-14 NBA season the Toronto Raptors went 48-34, finishing four games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets to win the Atlantic Division. The Raptors went 11-5 in divisional play. They went 26-15 on their home court at the Air Canada Centre while going 22-19 on the road.
The Raptors initially got off to an underwhelming start to their regular season, sitting at just 6-12. However, it would be partly because of a significant trade that helped turn their entire season around.
Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan quickly became the high-scoring threat for the Raptors, zooming past defenders with ease to drive to the basket or spotting up for three points. DeRozan had 1,791 total points with 343 rebounds, 313 assists and 86 steals, making 604 of 1,407 field goals, 64 of 210 three-point shots and 519 of 630 free throws. Point guard Kyle Lowry had 1,417 total points with 369 rebounds, 586 assists and 121 steals, making 457 of 1,080 field goal shots, 190 of 500 three-point shots and 313 of 385 free throws.
Center Jonas Valanciunas had 916 total points while making 359 of 676 field goal shots and 198 of 260 free throws. Power forward Amir Johnson had 799 total points with 505 rebounds, 115 assists and 88 blocks, making 344 of 612 field goal shots and 91 of 143 free throws. Shooting guard Terrence Ross had 879 total points while making 318 of 751 field goal shots, 161 of 408 three-point shots and 82 of 98 free throws.
The Raptors pulled off a trade with the Sacramento Kings that saw Toronto give up small forward Rudy Gay, forward Quincy Acy and center Aaron Gray in exchange for small forward John Salmons, point guard Greivis Vasquez, center Chuck Hayes and power forward Patrick Patterson.
Greivis Vasquez had 582 points with 228 assists, making 212 of 508 field goal shots, 93 of 239 three-point shots and 65 of 76 free throws. John Salmons had only 298 total points but did have 103 assists and made 109 of 206 field goal shots and 47 of 121 three-point shots. Patrick Patterson had 437 points while making 175 of 367 field goal shots and 46 of 112 three-point shots.
During the regular season the Toronto Raptors never put together a lengthy winning streak, but they did have a modest five-game winning streak that helped set the tone for the rest of their season. This streak began on December 27 with a 95-83 win over the New York Knicks, and it ended on January 3 with a 101-88 win over the Washington Wizards.
One week before that winning streak began, the Raptors played an amazing overtime game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center on December 20. The Raptors outlasted the Mavericks and beat them 109-108. Kyle Lowry had 20 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists while making 3 of 7 three-point shots. Jonas Valanciunas had 18 points, pulling down 13 rebounds and making 8 of 13 field goal shots. DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson and Terrence Ross all scored 15 points each. DeRozan also had 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Johnson also had 6 rebounds and 3 steals, making 5 of 8 field goal shots and 4 of 6 free throws. Ross made 5 of 9 field goal shots and 3 of 4 three-point shots.
In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Toronto Raptors faced their Atlantic Division rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, and unfortunately, unlike how they fared against them in the regular season, the Raptors were unable to put the Nets away. The Nets eliminated the Raptors from the playoffs by winning the series 4 games to 3.
In Game 2 on April 22 at the Air Canada Centre, the Raptors beat the Nets 100-95. DeMar DeRozan had 30 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists and made 12 of 14 free throws. Amir Johnson had 16 points with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, making 8 of 10 field goal shots. Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and grabbed an impressive 14 rebounds, making 5 of 9 field goal shots and 5 of 7 free throws.
In Game 4 on April 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Raptors defeated the Nets 87-79. DeRozan was once again the main scoring force with 24 points along with 5 rebounds and 2 assists, making 9 of 11 free throws. Kyle Lowry was close behind with 22 points along with 4 rebounds and 2 assists, making 3 of 8 three-point shots and 5 of 5 free throws. Amir Johnson had 17 points with 5 rebounds and 2 steals, making 7 of 11 field goal shots.
In Game 5 on April 30 at the Air Canada Centre, the Raptors narrowly beat the Nets 115-113 to take a 3-2 series lead. Kyle Lowry had an amazing game from beyond the arc, making 6 of 9 crucial three-point shots. Lowry finished with 36 points, 6 assists and made 11 of 19 field goal shots and 8 of 10 free throws. DeRozan stayed efficient with 23 points along with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, making 12 of 13 free throws. Valanciunas had 16 points with 6 rebounds, making 7 of 10 field goal shots.
The 2013-14 Toronto Raptors season would only be the start of a string of postseason appearances for the franchise, as the Raptors were finally on the right track after years of searching for the right mix of basketball talent. With a solid core on their roster, the Raptors appeared to be going places.
7th February, 2017
17th June, 2026
5th March, 2016
29th March, 2016
17th April, 2016
August 23rd, 2026 31
August 23rd, 2026 31
August 22nd, 2026 31
