Darko Rajakovic reaches major milestone as NBA head coach after the Toronto Raptors’ win over the Miami Heat.
Darko Rajakovic secured his 100th career NBA head-coaching victory Thursday when the Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat 128-114 at Scotiabank Arena. The milestone came in his third season with the franchise and underscored a steady climb from rebuilding years to playoff contention.
Rajakovic joined the Raptors on June 13, 2023, as the 10th head coach in franchise history after Nick Nurse was fired following a 41-41 season and play-in exit. The Serbian assistant from the Memphis Grizzlies beat out other candidates with a reputation for player development and defensive structure. His first win arrived quickly on Oct. 25, 2023 when the Raptors edged the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-94 in the season opener.
Thursday’s Win Reshapes Raptors’ Playoff Positioning
Toronto controlled Thursday’s game against the Heat from tip-off. Brandon Ingram played one of the best games of the season, finishing the night with a season-high 38 points. The Raptors also enjoyed contributions across the board: RJ Barrett added 22, Collin Murray-Boyles 17, Scottie Barnes 13 and Immanuel Quickley 11.
Toronto led by double digits most of the night, weathered a Heat third-quarter rally, and pulled away in the fourth. It outscored Miami 70-34 in the paint and held a 23-6 edge in second-chance points. The Heat, now 41-39, dropped their 10th loss in 13 games.
The result lifted the Raptors to 45-35, moving them past the Atlanta Hawks into a tie for fifth in the Eastern Conference. Because Toronto swept the season series against the Hawks, the Raptors own the tiebreaker and currently sit fifth.
With two games left, Friday against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and Sunday at home versus the Brooklyn Nets, the Raptors stand two wins from guaranteeing their first playoff berth since 2022. A top-six finish secures a direct first-round matchup and avoids the play-in entirely. Even one more victory would likely clinch at least the No. 6 seed, depending on results elsewhere.
Rajakovic’s 100th win also arrives with the team at its highest win total since the 2021-22 championship run.
The victory also completed a 4-0 season sweep of Miami. After two seasons of 25 and 30 wins, the Raptors finally have a winning record under Rajakovic and sit on the cusp of postseason play.
After an impressive game at home, Toronto will again count on Ingram and its core to conclude what has been an up-and-down season for the franchise on a strong note.