"We're not playing in Europe, they won't be throwing bottles at us!" Darko Rajaković's fiery playoff announcement

Pulse Sports Team 08:21 - 17 April 2026

The Toronto Raptors secured their return to the playoffs with a convincing 136-101 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, capping off a remarkable turnaround under Serbian coach Darko Rajaković! This achievement holds historical significance for the Čačak-born coach, who becomes the first European head coach to lead an NBA team to the playoffs.

Finishing the 2025-26 regular season with a 46-36 record, the Raptors improved by sixteen wins over the previous year, securing the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Their decisive victory was marked by clinical efficiency, as Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett combined for 69 points on just 36 field goal attempts.

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković spoke about the upcoming playoff matchup and the atmosphere awaiting his team, drawing a parallel to European basketball.

We're not playing in Europe. They won't be throwing bottles at us. There won't be lasers in our eyes when we're shooting free throws. It's going to be loud. So what? That shouldn't bother us. We need to go out there, play to our standards, and enjoy the moment.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Raptors will face the Cavaliers, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday in Cleveland. The Raptors concluded the regular season in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.