The Grizzlies vs Raptors matchup at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 9 is an early-season meeting with a little extra weight attached. For the Raptors, it is another chance to show that last season’s 46-36 finish and fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference can be backed up by a stronger run when the schedule starts to tighten.
Toronto went into this season after a first-round playoff exit to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games, so the conversation has naturally shifted from progress to proof. A team that won 46 games and still fell in the opening round has to show it can keep its level when the margins matter.
The Raptors have added more pieces, but the standard is higher now
The offseason brought change. The Raptors traded for Kawhi Leonard and sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first round picks, a first round pick swap and a second round pick in the deal. They also used the 2026 NBA Draft to bring in Allen Graves with the 19th pick and Jaden Bradley with the 50th pick.
On paper, that is a clear statement that Toronto are not standing still. Kawhi Leonard brings the presence of a 2019 Finals MVP, while the wider roster has been shaped further by the additions of Kyle Anderson, the re-signing of Alijah Martin and the extension for Jamal Shead. Those moves do not guarantee anything, but they do raise expectations.
Why this first meeting matters
This is the first of two matchups between the Grizzlies and Raptors in the 2026-2027 season, which gives Monday’s game a useful edge. It is not just about the result in isolation. It is about whether Toronto can look settled early against a Grizzlies team that arrives with a young core after major roster changes.
The Raptors do not need to prove their talent. They have already shown enough of that. What they need now is continuity, discipline and the kind of performance that suggests their 46-36 season was a platform rather than a peak. A home game like this is exactly the sort of test that helps answer that question.
The matchup is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST, and for Toronto it offers an immediate check on where they stand. If the Raptors want to move beyond last season’s first-round disappointment, these are the games that should help define the next step.
