East playoff picture update via Adon Moss:

This will definitely be the most chill game of the season.

The Raptors (48-33, 5th in East) are locked into the five spot, so results won’t matter in the regular season finale against the Knicks (36-45, 11th in East). All the anxiety will come from scoreboard watching. Boston plays in Memphis, while Philadelphia hosts Detroit all at the same time. A Celtics win or Philly loss will lock a 76ers-Raptors first round matchup. Both the Celtics and Sixers would probably prefer to be the three seed to face the Bulls, who are 7-15 since the all-star break. Even Milwaukee can fall in that matchup with a loss in Cleveland at 3:30 pm ET, combined with a Celtics win.

However if Boston loses and Philadelphia wins, the Celtics and Raptors will run it back in a 2020 bubble playoffs rematch. That doesn’t seem to be what the people want.

Who would you prefer the Toronto Raptors play in the opening round???
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) April 9, 2022

The Grizzlies have proven to be a deep team even if they probably will rest some guys. Basically it comes down to how motivated Boston is to “see red.”

Player to Watch

OG Anunoby could use this game as a mini tune up, but the argument is there will be another long layoff before the first round begins anyway. OG had a career high 36 points during his last trip to Madison Square Garden. It’s a toss up if Anunoby plays, and some other regulars will probably take the night off too.

Meanwhile Knicks fans have been waiting for Obi Toppin to get consistent minutes all season. He finally is down the stretch and had his best scoring night as a pro on Friday with 35 points in Washington. Toppin is averaging 23.5 points in four April games.

Game Info

Tip-off: 7pm EDT | TV: Sportsnet | Radio: Sportsnet 590

Toronto Raptors Results, Lineups & Injuries

Previous Results

vs Rockets W 117-115

vs 76ers W 119-114

vs Hawks W 118-108

vs Heat L 114-109

@ Magic W 102-89

Probable Lineup

PF: O Anunoby, C. Boucher, T. Young

SF: S. Barnes, Y. Watanabe, J. Champagnie

C: P. Siakam, P. Achiuwa, K. Birch,

PG: A. Brooks, M. Flynn, D. Banton

SG: G. Trent Jr., S. Mykhailiuk, D. Johnson

Injuries

OG Anunoby, SF – Out moreAnunoby (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s regular-season finale versus the Knicks, Blake Murphy of The Athletic reports.

Fred VanVleet, SG – Day-To-Day

New York Knicks Results, Lineups & Injuries

Previous Results

@ Wizards W 114-92

vs Nets L 110-98

@ Magic W 118-88

vs Cavaliers L 119-101

vs Hornets L 125-114

Probable Lineup

PF: O. Toppin, J. Sims, F. Hunt

SF: E. Fournier

C: , T. Gibson, M. Robinson

PG: M. McBride, R. Arcidiacono

SG: A. Burks, I. Quickley, Q. Grimes

Injuries

Nerlens Noel, C – Out moreNoel (foot) will not play Sunday against the Raptors.

Mitchell Robinson, C – Day-To-Day moreRobinson (illness) is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Raptors.

Miles McBride, PG – Day-To-Day

Quentin Grimes, SG – Day-To-Day moreGrimes (knee) is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Raptors.

RJ Barrett, SG – Out moreBarrett (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Raptors, Fred Katz of The Athletic reports.

Derrick Rose, PG – Out moreKnicks head coach Tom Thibodeau expressed pessimism Monday when asked about Rose’s (ankle) chances of playing again in 2021-22, Marc Berman of the New York Post reports. “I don’t know [if there’s time for Rose to return this season],” Thibodeau said. “I don’t know — he’s been out a long time. He hasn’t taken contact on. He’s ramped up his conditioning but hasn’t taken contact on. That’s a big thing.”

Julius Randle, PF – Out moreRandle (quadriceps) will likely be forced to miss the remainder of the season, Fred Katz of The Athletic reports.

Cam Reddish, SF – Out

Kemba Walker, PG – Out moreWalker has been ruled out for the remainder of the season so he can work out in preparation for the 2022-23 campaign, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.