Toronto Raptors own the NBA's best defense after week one, allowing 90.0 points per 100 possessions
WhyNBA Sports Desk · Oct 24, 2026
The story
The Toronto Raptors own the NBA's best defense after the first week of the 2026-27 season, giving up just 90.0 points per 100 possessions across two wins.
The story
No other team that has played twice is below 95, and Toronto has done it while playing at the fastest pace of any unbeaten team.
The story
The opener set the tone. On Wednesday, October 21, the Raptors buried the Chicago Bulls 135-92 at Scotiabank Arena (Game Center), holding Chicago to 27 of 85 from the field and an almost unthinkable 4 of 36 from three.
The story
The Bulls also coughed it up 27 times against 15 Toronto steals, and the Raptors won the first quarter 43-23.
The story
Friday's 112-102 win at the Washington Wizards (Game Center) was less lopsided but followed the same script: Toronto took the first quarter 34-21, led 60-52 at the half and never let Washington back in.
The story
Scottie Barnes carried the offense with 28 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, and RJ Barrett added 23 and nine rebounds. Trae Young still found 22 points and 12 assists for the Wizards, but Washington never got its offense moving.
The defensive rating top 10
The table ranks every team that had played two games through Friday, October 23, before Saturday's slate. Brooklyn, Cleveland, Denver and Phoenix had played only once and are not ranked.
The defensive rating top 10
DRtg is points allowed per 100 possessions, Opp PPG is points allowed per game and pace is possessions per game, all from the WhyNBA team stats page.
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 1; Team: Toronto Raptors; DRtg: 90.0; Opp PPG: 97.0; Record: 2-0; Games: 2; Pace: 107.8
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 2; Team: Oklahoma City Thunder; DRtg: 95.9; Opp PPG: 94.0; Record: 2-0; Games: 2; Pace: 98.0
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 3; Team: Philadelphia 76ers; DRtg: 96.7; Opp PPG: 103.0; Record: 2-0; Games: 2; Pace: 106.5
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 4; Team: Minnesota Timberwolves; DRtg: 97.0; Opp PPG: 99.5; Record: 2-0; Games: 2; Pace: 102.6
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 5; Team: Atlanta Hawks; DRtg: 98.2; Opp PPG: 103.0; Record: 2-0; Games: 2; Pace: 104.8
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 6; Team: Portland Trail Blazers; DRtg: 100.9; Opp PPG: 101.5; Record: 2-0; Games: 2; Pace: 100.5
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 7; Team: Memphis Grizzlies; DRtg: 105.7; Opp PPG: 105.5; Record: 2-0; Games: 2; Pace: 99.8
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 8; Team: LA Clippers; DRtg: 107.0; Opp PPG: 110.5; Record: 1-1; Games: 2; Pace: 103.2
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 9; Team: Los Angeles Lakers; DRtg: 108.8; Opp PPG: 111.0; Record: 2-0; Games: 2; Pace: 102.0
The defensive rating top 10
Rank: 10; Team: New York Knicks; DRtg: 109.1; Opp PPG: 106.5; Record: 0-2; Games: 2; Pace: 97.6
Oklahoma City allows the fewest points
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the stingiest team by the scoreboard, allowing 94.0 points a game. Their rating sits second only because their games are slower.
Oklahoma City allows the fewest points
Oklahoma City held San Antonio to 36 of 93 shooting in a 116-104 win (Game Center), then smothered Denver 96-84 on Thursday (Game Center), when the Nuggets shot 31 of 82, made 8 of 30 threes, turned it over 22 times and had nine shots blocked.
Oklahoma City allows the fewest points
Philadelphia and Atlanta have each allowed 103.0 points a game, but the 76ers grade out slightly better per possession. The New York Knicks are the outlier at No. 10: they have allowed only 106.5 a game and are still 0-2 because their own offense has managed 101.5.
Oklahoma City allows the fewest points
Two games is a small sample, and the order will move quickly. The Hawks, 76ers, Bulls and Wizards were all in action on Saturday night.
What comes next
The top-ranked defense meets the No. 4 unit on Sunday, October 25, when the Raptors visit the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:00 pm ET (Game Center). Minnesota has held Miami to 106 and Orlando to 93. The Thunder host the LA Clippers at the same hour (Game Center).
What comes next
The full board is on the team stats and standings pages.
Photo credit
Banners in the rafters of Scotiabank Arena, the Raptors’ home, in February 2023. Photo by Djuradj Vujcic, CC-BY-2.0, resized.
Keep reading
Read the full article for more context and the latest details.