Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 27, 2026

The Raptors haven’t won a Game 1 in the NBA Playoffs since George W. Bush’s first term

Opening game woes have plagued an otherwise successful Toronto team.

NBA: Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors
NBA: Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Raptors fell to the Milwaukee Bucks, 97-83, in Game 1 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff matchup on Saturday. It’s the fourth season in a row the Raptors have surrendered the opening game of the postseason.

The Raptors are now 1-11 all-time in playoff Game 1s and have lost each of their last nine, including the first game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. Their only Game 1 victory was in the 2001 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadephia 76ers, a series they lost in seven games. Six of those 10 Game 1 losses came on their home court.

In the Dwane Casey era, Toronto has surrendered first-round Game 1s to the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and now the Bucks. The Raptors are 1-2 in those series after dropping the first game, falling to the Nets in seven before getting swept by the Wizards in 2015.

Toronto made it to the conference finals last season despite dropping the opening game to Indiana.

It’s hard to put a finger on why the Raptors continue to lose their opening games. Toronto has held home-court in Game 1 of the first round in each of the last four years, yet they continue to blow that advantage. The staples of that roster — Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Patterson and Jonas Valanciunas — have remained in tact, but the supporting cast has improved over the years.

It’s an inexcusable instance that has plagued an otherwise successful Raptors team in recent seasons — one expected to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers this season.

Lowry’s play hasn’t helped.

Lowry scored just four points on two-of-11 shooting in the Raptors’ Game 1 loss on Saturday. Those shooting woes aren’t unique to this season.

The Raptors’ All-Star guard is averaging just 13.3 points in the first round of the playoffs in the past two seasons. Lowry averaged 13.9 points on 17 percent three-point shooting in Toronto’s first-round series against Indiana last season.

In all, he has the worst playoff field goal percentage in the playoffs (37.9 percent) among all active players, with DeRozan (39.1 percent) not too far behind, according to Sports Illustrated’s Ben Golliver.

See More:

More in NBA

NBA
The LaMelo Ball trade makes absolutely no sense for the HornetsThe LaMelo Ball trade makes absolutely no sense for the Hornets
NBA

The Hornets sold low on LaMelo.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
6 Jaylen Brown trade ideas for Celtics star with rumors swirling6 Jaylen Brown trade ideas for Celtics star with rumors swirling
NBA

Here are six Jaylen Brown fake trades that make sense for both sides.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams’ full 2026 classNBA Draft grades for all 30 teams’ full 2026 class
NBA

Let’s grade every team’s full 2026 NBA draft class.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
LaMelo Ball trade grades for Wolves, Hornets after shocking blockbuster dealLaMelo Ball trade grades for Wolves, Hornets after shocking blockbuster deal
NBA

Let’s trade the LaMelo Ball stunner for the Wolves and Hornets.

By James Dator
NBA
The biggest lessons from the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sagaThe biggest lessons from the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga
NBA

The Bucks waited too long to trade Giannis, and other lessons from the NBA’s latest blockbuster.

By Oliver Fox
NBA
NBA Draft results: Pick-by-pick tracker for all 60 selections in 2026 classNBA Draft results: Pick-by-pick tracker for all 60 selections in 2026 class
NBA

Keeping track of every pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

By Ricky O'Donnell