Raptors announce 2021-22 preseason schedule

Buckle up, folks, NBA basketball is returning to Toronto in a mere 24 days.

The Toronto Raptors have announced their upcoming preseason schedule, and it kicks off on October 4 with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena.

To that, all we can say is: Finally.

That game kicks off a home-and-home series with Philly; from there, the Raptors will travel to Boston to play the Celtics, come back home and host the Houston Rockets, then wrap things up in Washington against the Wizards.

Here’s the full schedule:

• Oct. 4, 7:00 p.m.: Raptors vs 76ers
• Oct. 7, 7:00 p.m.: Raptors at 76ers
• Oct. 9, 7:00 p.m.: Raptors at Celtics
• Oct. 11, 7:00 p.m.: Raptors vs Rockets
• Oct. 12, 7:00 p.m.: Raptors at Wizards

Honestly, I can’t remember ever being as excited for a preseason game as I am for this Raptors-Sixers game on October 4. It’s been more than 18 months since NBA basketball was played at Scotiabank Arena! It actually feels a bit surreal to think that the team is finally coming home.

We still don’t have official word on whether or not fans will be allowed in to these preseason games, or what the capacity or requirements might be if they are. Surely those details will come in the next couple of weeks.

For now though, let’s just get excited about the Raptors’ return. Yeah, it’s just preseason, but already this is shaping up to be a better season than last year’s lost season in Tampa.