The 2018–19 Toronto Raptors season was the 24th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During the off-season, the Raptors acquired small forward Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs after trading franchise star DeMar DeRozan. The season ended with the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance and first NBA championship.
On May 11, 2018, the Raptors fired head coach Dwane Casey after the team was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second consecutive time in the postseason. On June 14, the Raptors promoted assistant coach Nick Nurse as their head coach. The Raptors played their home games at newly renamed Scotiabank Arena. For the first time since 2008–09, DeMar DeRozan (who spent his first nine seasons in the NBA with the Raptors) did not play for the Raptors, as he was traded, along with Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick, to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. Later, on February 7, 2019, at the trade deadline, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Marc Gasol to the Raptors for Jonas Valančiūnas, Delon Wright and C. J. Miles. The Raptors later signed Jeremy Lin. The team finished the regular season with a 58–24 record, earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They also won their fifth Atlantic Division title in six years. The Raptors were one of two teams to have an offense and defensive rating that both ranked in the top 5 of the NBA.
In the playoffs, the Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic in five games in the first round. They edged the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games in the semifinals to make their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2016, with Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater over Joel Embiid giving the Raptors a 92–90 victory in the series-clinching game 7. The Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals 4–2, winning the last four games of the series after being down 0–2 to become the sixth team to overcome that deficit. In the NBA Finals, the Raptors prevailed over the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. They beat the Warriors 4–2, becoming the first non-US team to win the NBA title.
Draft
The Raptors did not have a pick in the 2018 NBA draft. They had previously traded their selections to the Brooklyn Nets, who ended up drafting Džanan Musa, and to the Phoenix Suns, who ended up drafting George King.
Roster
Standings
Division
Conference
Game log
Preseason
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | September 29 | Portland | | Valančiūnas (17) | Siakam (13) | Leonard, Siakam, VanVleet (3) | Rogers Arena18,654 | 1–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | October 2 | @ Utah | | Valančiūnas (18) | Siakam, Valančiūnas (9) | VanVleet (3) | Vivint Smart Home Arena18,306 | 1–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | October 5 | Melbourne | | Powell (21) | Ibaka (12) | Wright (5) | Scotiabank Arena15,781 | 2–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | October 10 | Brooklyn | | Green (22) | Leonard, Valančiūnas (7) | Leonard, Lowry (7) | Bell CentreN/A | 3–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | October 11 | @ New Orleans | | Richardson, Siakam (21) | Moreland (12) | Felder, Siakam (6) | Smoothie King Center15,047 | 4–1
Regular season
|- style="background:#cfc | 1 | October 17 | Cleveland | | Kyle Lowry (27) | Leonard, Valančiūnas (12) | Kyle Lowry (8) | Scotiabank Arena19,915 | 1–0 |- style="background:#cfc | 2 | October 19 | Boston | | Kawhi Leonard (31) | Kawhi Leonard (10) | Fred VanVleet (7) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 2–0 |- style="background:#cfc | 3 | October 20 | @ Washington | | Kyle Lowry (28) | Pascal Siakam (10) | Kyle Lowry (12) | Capital One Arena16,185 | 3–0 |- style="background:#cfc | 4 | October 22 | Charlotte | | Kawhi Leonard (22) | Jonas Valančiūnas (10) | Kyle Lowry (14) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 4–0 |- style="background:#cfc | 5 | October 24 | Minnesota | | Kawhi Leonard (35) | Jonas Valančiūnas (9) | Kyle Lowry (10) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 5–0 |- style="background:#cfc | 6 | October 26 | Dallas | | Kawhi Leonard (21) | Kawhi Leonard (9) | Kyle Lowry (12) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 6–0 |- style="background:#fcc | 7 | October 29 | @ Milwaukee | | Serge Ibaka (30) | Serge Ibaka (9) | Kyle Lowry (15) | Fiserv Forum17,341 | 6–1 |- style="background:#cfc | 8 | October 30 | Philadelphia | | Kawhi Leonard (31) | Pascal Siakam (15) | Kyle Lowry (12) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 7–1
|- style="background:#cfc | 9 | November 2 | @ Phoenix | | Kawhi Leonard (19) | Jonas Valančiūnas (7) | Kyle Lowry (12) | Talking Stick Resort Arena15,843 | 8–1 |- style="background:#cfc | 10 | November 4 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Serge Ibaka (34) | Pascal Siakam (13) | Kyle Lowry (15) | Staples Center18,997 | 9–1 |- style="background:#cfc | 11 | November 5 | @ Utah | | Anunoby, Ibaka, Lowry, VanVleet (17) | Lowry, Siakam (7) | Kyle Lowry (11) | Vivint Smart Home Arena18,306 | 10–1 |- style="background:#cfc | 12 | November 7 | @ Sacramento | | Kawhi Leonard (25) | Serge Ibaka (14) | Kyle Lowry (8) | Golden 1 Center17,583 | 11–1 |- style="background:#cfc | 13 | November 10 | New York | | Pascal Siakam (23) | Jonas Valanciunas (10) | Kyle Lowry (8) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 12–1 |- style="background:#fcc | 14 | November 12 | New Orleans | | Pascal Siakam (22) | Serge Ibaka (14) | Kyle Lowry (11) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 12–2 |- style="background:#fcc | 15 | November 14 | Detroit | | Kawhi Leonard (26) | Leonard, Monroe (9) | Kyle Lowry (7) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 12–3 |- style="background:#fcc | 16 | November 16 | @ Boston | | Kawhi Leonard (31) | Kawhi Leonard (15) | Kyle Lowry (7) | TD Garden18,624 | 12–4 |- style="background:#cfc | 17 | November 17 | @ Chicago | | Fred VanVleet (18) | Jonas Valanciunas (9) | Kyle Lowry (8) | United Center21,263 | 13–4 |- style="background:#cfc | 18 | November 20 | @ Orlando | | Kawhi Leonard (18) | Ibaka, Siakam (9) | Kyle Lowry (7) | Amway Center16,016 | 14–4 |- style="background:#cfc | 19 | November 21 | @ Atlanta | | Jonas Valanciunas (24) | Jonas Valanciunas (13) | Kyle Lowry (17) | State Farm Arena15,058 | 15–4 |- style="background:#cfc | 20 | November 23 | Washington | | Kawhi Leonard (27) | Kawhi Leonard (10) | Kyle Lowry (9) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 16–4 |- style="background:#cfc | 21 | November 25 | Miami | | Kawhi Leonard (29) | Leonard, Valanciunas (10) | Kyle Lowry (10) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 17–4 |- style="background:#cfc | 22 | November 27 | @ Memphis | | Kyle Lowry (24) | Kawhi Leonard (10) | Kyle Lowry (6) | FedExForum14,187 | 18–4 |- style="background:#cfc | 23 | November 29 | Golden State | | Kawhi Leonard (37) | Leonard, Lowry (8) | Kyle Lowry (12) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 19–4
|- style="background:#cfc | 24 | December 1 | @ Cleveland | | Kawhi Leonard (34) | Kawhi Leonard (9) | Pascal Siakam (5) | Quicken Loans Arena19,432 | 20–4 |- style="background:#fcc | 25 | December 3 | Denver | | Kawhi Leonard (27) | Jonas Valančiūnas (10) | Kyle Lowry (11) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 20–5 |- style="background:#cfc | 26 | December 5 | Philadelphia | | Kawhi Leonard (36) | Kawhi Leonard (9) | Pascal Siakam (6) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 21–5 |- style="background:#fcc | 27 | December 7 | @ Brooklyn | | Kawhi Leonard (32) | Jonas Valančiūnas (8) | Kyle Lowry (11) | Barclays Center14,035 | 21–6 |- style="background:#fcc | 28 | December 9 | Milwaukee | | Serge Ibaka (22) | Kawhi Leonard (8) | Kyle Lowry (7) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 21–7 |- style="background:#cfc | 29 | December 11 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Serge Ibaka (25) | Serge Ibaka (9) | Fred VanVleet (14) | Staples Center17,812 | 22–7 |- style="background:#cfc | 30 | December 12 | @ Golden State | | Kyle Lowry (23) | Serge Ibaka (12) | Kyle Lowry (12) | Oracle Arena19,596 | 23–7 |- style="background:#fcc | 31 | December 14 | @ Portland | | Kawhi Leonard (28) | Danny Green (11) | Fred VanVleet (8) | Moda Center19,458 | 23–8 |- style="background:#fcc | 32 | December 16 | @ Denver | | Kawhi Leonard (29) | Kawhi Leonard (14) | Leonard, Wright (4) | Pepsi Center19,520 | 23–9 |- style="background:#cfc | 33 | December 19 | Indiana | | Kawhi Leonard (28) | Kawhi Leonard (10) | Kawhi Leonard (6) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 24–9 |- style="background:#cfc | 34 | December 21 | Cleveland | | Kawhi Leonard (37) | Pascal Siakam (10) | Fred VanVleet (8) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 25–9 |- style="background:#fcc | 35 | December 22 | @ Philadelphia | | Pascal Siakam (26) | Greg Monroe (8) | Kyle Lowry (5) | Wells Fargo Center20,691 | 25–10 |- style="background:#cfc | 36 | December 26 | @ Miami | | Kawhi Leonard (30) | Pascal Siakam (9) | Serge Ibaka (4) | American Airlines Arena19,902 | 26–10 |- style="background:#fcc | 37 | December 28 | @ Orlando | | Kawhi Leonard (21) | Serge Ibaka (8) | Delon Wright (6) | Amway Center18,846 | 26–11 |- style="background:#cfc | 38 | December 30 | Chicago | | Kawhi Leonard (27) | Pascal Siakam (12) | Fred VanVleet (7) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 27–11
|- style="background:#cfc | 39 | January 1 | Utah | | Kawhi Leonard (45) | Pascal Siakam (10) | Fred VanVleet (5) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 28–11 |- style="background:#fcc | 40 | January 3 | @ San Antonio | | Kawhi Leonard (21) | Ibaka, Monroe, Siakam (6) | Pascal Siakam (7) | AT&T Center18,354 | 28–12 |- style="background:#cfc | 41 | January 5 | @ Milwaukee | | Leonard, Siakam (30) | Serge Ibaka (9) | Fred VanVleet (8) | Fiserv Forum18,028 | 29–12 |- style="background:#cfc | 42 | January 6 | Indiana | | Norman Powell (23) | Pascal Siakam (10) | Lowry, VanVleet (8) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 30–12 |- style="background:#cfc | 43 | January 8 | Atlanta | | Kawhi Leonard (31) | Pascal Siakam (10) | Leonard, Lowry (6) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 31–12 |- style="background:#cfc | 44 | January 11 | Brooklyn | | Kawhi Leonard (20) | Kawhi Leonard (11) | Kyle Lowry (8) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 32–12 |- style="background:#cfc | 45 | January 13 | @ Washington | | Kawhi Leonard (41) | Pascal Siakam (19) | Kyle Lowry (11) | Capital One Arena16,919 | 33–12 |- style="background:#fcc | 46 | January 16 | @ Boston | | Kawhi Leonard (33) | Serge Ibaka (10) | Lowry, Siakam (7) | TD Garden18,624 | 33–13 |- style="background:#cfc | 47 | January 17 | Phoenix | | Serge Ibaka (22) | Pascal Siakam (12) | Kyle Lowry (8) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 34–13 |- style="background:#cfc | 48 | January 19 | Memphis | | Danny Green (24) | Pascal Siakam (8) | Lowry, VanVleet (7) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 35–13 |- style="background:#cfc | 49 | January 22 | Sacramento | | Lowry, VanVleet (19) | Serge Ibaka (10) | Kyle Lowry (9) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 36–13 |- style="background:#fcc | 50 | January 23 | @ Indiana | | Serge Ibaka (23) | Serge Ibaka (11) | Kyle Lowry (7) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse16,879 | 36–14 |- style="background:#fcc | 51 | January 25 | @ Houston | | Kawhi Leonard (32) | Serge Ibaka (14) | Kyle Lowry (11) | Toyota Center18,055 | 36–15 |- style="background:#cfc | 52 | January 27 | @ Dallas | | Kawhi Leonard (33) | Serge Ibaka (11) | Kyle Lowry (9) | American Airlines Center20,308 | 37–15 |- style="background:#fcc | 53 | January 31 | Milwaukee | | Pascal Siakam (28) | Serge Ibaka (10) | Lowry, Siakam, VanVleet (3) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 37–16
|- style="background:#cfc | 54 | February 3 | L.A. Clippers | | Kawhi Leonard (18) | Serge Ibaka (12) | Fred VanVleet (7) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 38–16 |- style="background:#cfc | 55 | February 5 | @ Philadelphia | | Kawhi Leonard (24) | Kyle Lowry (10) | Kyle Lowry (6) | Wells Fargo Center20,472 | 39–16 |- style="background:#cfc | 56 | February 7 | @ Atlanta | | Pascal Siakam (33) | Pascal Siakam (14) | Kyle Lowry (13) | State Farm Arena16,036 | 40–16 |- style="background:#cfc | 57 | February 9 | @ New York | | Kyle Lowry (22) | Serge Ibaka (13) | Leonard, VanVleet (6) | Madison Square Garden18,886 | 41–16 |- style="background:#cfc | 58 | February 11 | Brooklyn | | Kawhi Leonard (30) | Serge Ibaka (12)