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[Toronto Raptors]

Hepburn and Mogbo lead Raptors to 107-105 comeback victory over the Celtics

With the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle of a captivating playoff run and the Toronto Maple Leafs starting a new season with a victory over the rival Montreal Canadiens, an NBA Preseason game between the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics probably wasn’t top of mind for many people.

Just don’t tell that to anyone inside Scotiabank Arena.

JONATHAN MOGBO WINS IT FOR TORONTO.

pic.twitter.com/vKfQPjKWuW

— NBA (@NBA) October 11, 2025

Jonathan Mogbo capped a furious second-half comeback with a game-winning lay-in with 1.3 seconds remaining as the Raptors defeated the Celtics, 107-105, in front of a raucous crowd. Gradey Dick led Toronto with 22 points, seemingly providing the only source of scoring for the Raptors’ struggling first-half offense. Chucky Hepburn led the fourth-quarter comeback, finishing with 13 points, 8 assists, and 4 steals. Boston was led by Peyton Pritchard and Chris Boucher, making his return to Toronto after playing 7 seasons with the Raptors, who each scored 19 points.

Playing its third game in five days, Coach Rajakovic opted to sit all of his starters — Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl — along with Ulrich Chomche. With Jamal Shead, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Sandro Mamukelashvili starting, the Raptors offense unsurprisingly struggled to score. Toronto scored 12 of its 19 first-quarter points via transition or the free throw line.

Boston was also lacking star power, as Derrick White and Jaylen Brown both sat out after playing in Wednesday’s preseason opener. The Celtics still had Pritchard, who was the closest thing to a star for Boston and played like it. He scored 15 points in the first half and never looked like he was breaking a sweat.

Boston’s best player was a familiar face for the folks at Scotiabank Arena. The fans were treated to an evening full of the “Boucher Experience.” He was drawing charges, hitting threes and, surprise, was a game-high +22. Chris finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

With Toronto’s main playmakers sitting out, Darko’s troops crashed the glass with reckless abandon. Dick led the way with four offensive boards in the first quarter. The extra possessions didn’t amount to much as Toronto trailed for much of the first half.

One of the few bright spots was Murray-Boyles. CMB showed off his defensive versatility, guarding Pritchard, Queta, and Boucher in the first few possessions. However, Boucher got the better of the rookie, scoring a fallaway jumper while drawing the foul. CMB returned the favour, posting up the skinny former Raptor and bullying his way for a bucket. On the next trip, CMB took a handoff and drove hard into the paint for a tough lay-in over Boucher and Queta. Unfortunately for the promising rookie, he only had one shift as he was ruled out at halftime with an elbow contusion. Post-game, Rajakovic said CMB’s x-rays were positive and that he should be fine.

CHRIS BOUCHER IN A CELTICS JERSEY FEELS STRANGE… pic.twitter.com/RLANkXtQ28

— Bodog (@BodogCA) October 11, 2025

For a third consecutive preseason game, the Raptors were without Jakob Poeltl. While Sandro Mamukelashvili had shown flashes of his offensive prowess in the first two games, his first Raptors game at Scotiabank Arena was not a pleasant experience. He took 4 three-pointers in the second quarter and missed all of them.

Boucher took over near the end of the first half. He hit three-pointers on consecutive offensive possessions. The first was a familiar sight for Raptors fans as Boucher found himself open from the corner for an open triple. On the next trip down the floor, it was a rare sight as Boucher hit a pull-up three in transition. Jamison Battle clued into Boucher’s hot streak and stepped out to defend another three-point attempt by Chris on the next possession. Unfortunately, he planted his feet in Boucher’s landing area, thus, drawing a flagrant foul.

Toronto went ice cold in second quarter, with only a Battle three-pointer over the final 4:27 of the half. The Celtics outscored the Raptors 20-3 during that span, scoring the final 14 points of the half. Boston led 63-42 at the break.

Anfernee Simons, whom the Celtics acquired during the offseason in a trade that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland, started the game slowly, scoring 8 points on 2-for-7 shooting in the first half. In the third quarter, however, Simons came out strong, scoring 13 points in the quarter on increasingly difficult, and well-contested shots.

The Celtics would push the lead up to 27 points in the third quarter, but the Raptors fought back and entered the fourth quarter trailing 87-77. Toronto’s comeback was led by Dick, who added another 11 points in the quarter, and Chucky Hepburn, who had 8 points in the quarter, was a +10 in six minutes, and hit a three at the buzzer to energize the crowd.

CHUCKY WITH A HEAVE TO END THE QUARTER pic.twitter.com/mU8P8YRINW

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 11, 2025

As the fourth quarter wore on, both coaches pulled their starters. Just like in Vegas Summer League, Toronto’s group of young, feisty defenders took over the game. With Boston up by 14 with three minutes remaining, the Raptors kicked up the intensity by a few notches. In the span of 30 seconds, Hepburn hit a contested layup plus a free throw, followed by a steal and layup by Jared Rhoden, followed by another steal (by Jonathan Mogbo), which ended with a David Roddy triple. The roof almost blew off as the Raptors had trimmed the lead down to six with two-and-a-half minutes to play.

After Boston turned the ball over a sixth(!!) time over the last three minutes, AJ Lawson hit a game-tying layup. Wendell Moore Jr and David Roddy traded layups to set the stage for Mogbo’s heroics.

The Raptors head to Washington to face the Wizards on Sunday before a rematch with the Celtics in Boston next Wednesday. Toronto ends the preseason schedule next Friday at home to Brooklyn, on Brandon Ingram Night at Scotiabank Arena.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...mplete-comeback-with-107-105-win-over-celtics

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Game Preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards

The Toronto Raptors continue pre-season action with a matchup against the Washington Wizards at 3:00 p.m. EST on Sportsnet.

Here are three storylines to pay attention to during the game.

A potential starting five debut?​

It’s been 248 days since the Raptors traded for Brandon Ingram and fans have yet to see him take the court with the complete starting five. Centre Jakob Poeltl was already dealing with sore back stiffness and now may also be battling a cold, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange on Saturday.

Collin Murray-Boyles was not at practice today, instead was getting further testing done on his elbow. Jakob Poeltl was also out as he recovers from a cold.

— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) October 11, 2025

With only three games remaining until the regular season opener, time is running out for the Raptors’ main unit if they want to get meaningful practice reps. The Raptors start the season on the road for the first time since 2011. Toronto also plays 10 of its first 15 games on the road.

The Raptors’ bench went through their signature extended scoring drought in the back end of the first quarter against the Boston Celtics on Friday. It’s imperative that the starter finally live up to the vision the front office has for them.

Mob mentality 2.0​

Should the Raptors sit either the entirety or a majority of their starting lineup, expect to see the latest development surrounding the internal competition over key roster positions and playing time.

One of the carousels includes Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, and Ja’Kobe Walter. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic has been intentional about distributing playing time among the trio, ensuring that each player has an opportunity to showcase their talents. One of these three will see a drastic change in the consistent playing time they received last year.

Here are their numbers through the first half of the pre-season:

Agbaji: 18.6 MIN, 7.3 PTS, 2 REB, 0.3 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.6 TOV, 52.9 FG%, 40% 3P%

Dick: 18.6 MIN, 13.7 PTS, 3.7 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.6 TOV, 58.6 FG%, 45.4 3P%

Walter: 19.3 MIN, 7.0 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 0.6 STL, 1.0 TOV, 40.0 FG%, 30.0 3P%

With rookie Collin Murray-Boyles nursing an elbow ailment that limited him to seven minutes against the Celtics, the Raptors will again lean on the end-of-the-depth-chart options against the Wizards.

There’s a fascinating tug-of-war happening between Jamal Shead and rookie Chucky Hepburn. If Brandon Ingram and the rest of the starters are the Raptors’ engine, then Shead and Hepburn represent the lug nuts on the roster. It’s less about the statistics between the two and more about how the offence looks when the ball is in their hands. We know what they bring to the table on the defensive end.

Welcoming the Wizards to 2025-26​

The Wizards make their late pre-season debut as the only team in the league with three scheduled exhibition games. By comparison, most teams (17) are set to play four pre-season matchups. Seven teams will play a total of five games. There is a unique group of teams that will play in six games, which includes the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Raptors.

This should be a fun duel even if the Raptors opt to sit their starters again. Washington has a plethora of intriguing and young options on their roster that could represent an entertaining foil to the Raptors’ bench.

Two players that fit that billing are guard Tre Johnson and Canadian wing Kyshawn George.

Johnson was selected with the sixth pick in this year’s NBA Draft and was a popular option for Raptors fans in case he had slipped. It’ll be interesting to see how the 19-year-old handles the scrappy Raptors defence, especially late during a potentially close contest.

For George, it’ll be another opportunity to play in front of Canadian fans after suiting up for the country in the FIBA AmeriCup. A George breakout season could happen this year, and this would mark the beginning of that journey.

Another player to keep an eye on is former first-rounder Cam Whitmore. The athletic wing, along with guard CJ McCollum, was acquired by the Wizards in a three-way trade that sent Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans and salary relief to the Houston Rockets.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...preview-toronto-raptors-vs-washington-wizards

 

[Toronto Raptors]

‘We The Raptors’ book celebrates the unsung heroes of the franchise

What is the defining feature of the Toronto Raptors’ three decades as a franchise?

That’s the question Raptors radio host Eric Smith and his brother-in-law turned co-author, Andrew Bricker, asked themselves when dreaming up their project. Bricker, who teaches English literature at Ghent University in Belgium, is a long-time basketball fan. Smith, as fans know, is the radio voice of the team. They knew they had the right elements as a team to write a great book about the Raptors; it was just figuring out where they could lend their perspective to the narrative.

Doug Smith had written about the team’s history at the 25-year mark in his book, Alex Wong’s Prehistoric took fans through the conception and first season of the franchise. There wasn’t a need for another historical book about this team, not yet anyway.

As Smith travelled for Raptors games, one thing started to become abundantly clear to him — there are Raptors fans everywhere. No matter if he were in Sacramento, New Orleans, Miami or any of the NBA’s other cities, Raptors jerseys were visible in the stands. He started noticing that while many of them were the usual Lowry, DeRozan, Leonard, Carter, and Bosh jerseys that are so popular to this day, there were just as many jerseys for the “other guys.” The ones that aren’t brought up in “GOAT” conversations, but still contributed to the success and culture of the Toronto Raptors. Smith constantly saw people donning jerseys for guys like Powell, Valanciunas, Barrett, Hansbrough, Calderon and more over the years.

“Toronto’s very much a blue-collar city,” says Smith in an exclusive interview with Raptors HQ, “I think there’s plenty of hard workers and grinders, and the fan base of the Jays, of the Leafs, of the Raptors, appreciates those blue collar, bring their lunch pail to work kind of guys, as much as if not more than the stars.”

The duo realized this was where there was a gap in the conversation about this team’s history. We spend so much time talking about the GOATs (for good reason), but the “glue” guys deserve their spotlight too. That became the project — 30 interviews with 30 unsung Toronto Raptors legends from the team’s history.

Fast forward, and Smith and Bricker are now preparing for the launch of their book, “We The Raptors,” on November 4, 2025. That project came to life, and the book is a compilation of 30 conversations with various Raptors spanning from Year 1 to current rostered players. Intertwined through the eras are tidbits and insights from Smith’s own personal experience covering the team for three decades.

There were no parameters on who was “eligible” to be interviewed — guys who spent years with the team, guys who spent a lone season, guys who left and then came back. Smith and Bricker talked to players like Tracy Murray, Doug Christie, Chris Childs, Matt Bonner, Anthony Parker, Patrick Patterson and more. Simple, relaxed interviews about each player’s experiences and stories with the team, how they ended up on the team, and how their chapter with the Raptors ended. Bricker and Smith expected some behind-the-scenes look at this team at various points in history. What they didn’t expect was for these players to be so open and vulnerable with them.

“I think I had a working relationship with almost every single guy in this book, so there was some kind of trust there,” Smith said, but he was shocked at the emotional details every player was sharing with them, things that went beyond what was going on in the game.

Bricker, although he didn’t know any of the players to the level Smith did going into it, felt the same. “One thing that really struck me was how often the players were really thoughtful and emotionally open and reflective about the time they spent in Toronto,” Bricker added. “They would tell us directly about things that they regretted, things that they wish they’d done differently [during their time in Toronto].”

They decided to avoid basketball analysis — no X’s and O’s — and focus on the personal side of these stories. The result? A peek behind the curtain at what these players were going through personally, what they were feeling, and what they were overcoming during their time as Raptors. Stories about overcoming addiction, about battling mental health struggles, about dealing with grief, heartache, pressure, vitriol from fans or the media, losing, winning, being traded, feeling out of control in life, and so much more.

The other through line that wasn’t planned or expected by Bricker and Smith was how highly each player talked about Toronto as a city, and the Raptors as a franchise. No matter if they were on a winning or losing iteration of the team, there is a common theme of appreciation for the city, the country, and the people here. Some of them gained that appreciation later on, some knew it was there when they played for the team, but it’s there.

Fans will soon be able to read these stories for themselves, as We The Raptors hits shelves on November 4th. When it comes to what they want Raptors fans to get out of this book, Bricker and Smith hope that these stories help humanize some of these players who are often talked about as side pieces or forgotten about entirely. Successful teams can’t thrive with just their star players, and this book celebrates the other guys who work extremely hard to contribute to teams, who have contributed to the Toronto Raptors.

“There’s ample proof here that the history of the Raptors isn’t just about Raptors fans loving all the players that played for the Raptors,” says Bricker, “It’s about the Raptors themselves loving playing for the city. I think that comes through.”

This book is for anyone who has been a fan since day one, who hopped on during the Kyle/DeMar days, who celebrated the championship, or for new fans who want to learn about the history of the team. It’s not confined to anyone who was around during each of these players’ tenures, as Bricker and Smith did a great job of contextualizing the era each of these players entered the team in. Yet, if you were around on day one of the Toronto Raptors, there is a ton to learn and appreciate from these untold stories. It’s a celebration of a franchise that captures the hearts of an entire country, of the players who have made this franchise unforgettable, and the fans who make playing here so great.

We The Raptors drops on November 4, 2025. To pre-order your copy, click here.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-f...ok-toronto-eric-smith-bricker-history-players

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Ingram has the missing piece for Toronto, despite loss to Boston

It was finally time for Toronto Raptors fans to get their first taste of the projected starting lineup for the season. Visiting a familiar foe in the Boston Celtics for their second-last game of the preseason, the combination of Barnes, Quickley, Ingram, Poeltl and Barrett stepped out on the floor together for the first of what will hopefully be many games.

There shouldn’t be much of an expectation that they should already look in midseason form at this point, but the first few possessions looked rough. Miscommunications and missed shots were their biggest pitfalls, something that can only be fixed with repetitions. The identity of the Raptors is starting to take hold though, because despite every mistake, effort and defence are everything to this squad. That mindset helped them work their way back into the game, tying and leading at several points before falling to the Celtics 108-110 in another well-fought preseason matchup.

Brandon Ingram (20 points 11 rebounds), RJ Barrett (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), and Immanuel Quickley (14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists) were Toronto’s top performers. For Boston, Derek White was, without argument, their best player tonight. Finishing with 33 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, he helped anchor and lead their offence, ultimately handing Boston the win.

OKAYYY BI pic.twitter.com/jcUi1S1jyK

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 16, 2025

—

Even without Tatum, the Celtics came out swinging. High screen plays and long range shooting helped elevate Boston above the Raptors early. They were able to assert dominance in the paint, led by Neemias Queta, winning extra possessions in the opening minutes. A 19-7 lead for the Celtics was a bit discouraging.

Despite their shortcomings defending beyond the arc, Toronto’s transition game looked comfortable. As soon as they gathered a defensive rebound, guys were able to get to their spots in the open court and move downhill quickly. This created a lot of opportunities for Toronto, letting them chip away at Boston.

YEAHHH @IQ_GodSon pic.twitter.com/HZuA8Qnvf2

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 16, 2025

The Raptors were able to get within a possession or two numerous times, but Boston was crafty and continued to go with what worked. Relying on actions initiated from a high screen and swinging the ball for more long range shooting continued to work for them, drawing away each time Toronto made it close.

In the fourth, the benches cleared with Boston comfortably in the lead. In the fashion we have come to expect, the bench Raps’ grittiness on the defensive end won them extra possessions. Full court press, active hands, running a trap, and then finally a 24-shot clock violation gave them the final chance to tie up the game. Battle answered the call and drilled a shot from well outside the 3-point line, but a miscue on the final possession allowed Boston to finally close the door.

–

After struggling in late-game situations last year, this string of preseason games have been kind of encouraging to watch. Although largely fuelled by defence, the Raptors have still found a way to get their own shots. Although not on the floor in the final few minutes, the best example of this is Ingram.

Leading the scoring for the Raptors tonight with 20, BI was a huge piece of the offence. It’s hard not to see that he’s brought something we haven’t seen a lot lately. Last year, Toronto often struggled to score, going through droughts at times with no one to rely on to consistently get the ball in the basket.

Ingram is showing more than flashes of being the guy who’s able to do this though. A smooth jumper, the ability to shoot over guys with his size, and finish at the rim all while maintaining efficiency is a feat. More importantly though, these are parts of his game that the Raptors desperately needed.

It may be a little premature, but it wouldn’t be surprising if we see more of this from Ingram when the Raptors most need it.

Make that 20 PTS for BI pic.twitter.com/0FLklSun4c

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 16, 2025

Ultimately, this could be the key. Now they have time to play together, to build chemistry, and to refine their defence. But they also now have a scorer that can help them prevent droughts, and suddenly games are looking a lot more winnable.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...sing-piece-for-toronto-despite-loss-to-boston

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto Tempo head coaching search might be riding on decision of 1 candidate

When the WNBA season ended, there were 5 head coaching vacancies — Portland and Toronto as new expansion teams, in addition to the Seattle Storm, New York Liberty and Dallas Wings. With Portland announcing its choice of Alex Sarama from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the other franchises are on the clock.

Per reporting from The Athletic’s Ben Pickman, Toronto is interviewing multiple candidates, yet their No. 1 choice seems to be similar to the other team’s top pick. Ever since the New York Liberty announced they would not renew Sandy Brondello’s contract, she has been the top choice among fans to take over the role in Seattle, Dallas, and Toronto.

Brondello is an experienced coach, former player, and has coaching experience on two WNBA championship teams, as well as many successful Australian national teams. She could fit into any of these team situations extremely well.

In Seattle, her championship experience would help a team just on the cusp of being able to make deep playoff runs. With Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams and the young star Dom Malonga, Brondello would have tons of talent to work with.

In Dallas, Brondello could coach young star Paige Bueckers to new heights. The Wings struggled with consistency this season, and an experienced coach to help their young roster develop would be a fun opportunity.

Then there is Toronto. A similar situation to Dallas, given that the team’s inaugural roster will likely be youth-focused. Yet, the uniqueness in Toronto is that Brondello would be creating everything from scratch, and likely have a lot of rope to experiment, given the likely lack of pressure to succeed immediately. There is also the fact that Brondello is Australian, and perhaps the idea of coaching in the WNBA’s lone non-USA market is appealing to her and her family.

Per Pickman, the Tempo seem to be focused on Brondello, which isn’t shocking. Every team that is still looking probably is. This choice will likely be Brondello’s to make, and she will be able to choose the situation that excites her the most for her next WNBA coaching chapter. Things on her end seem to be halted a little bit, given she was on a (well-deserved) vacation last week. Yet, there likely won’t be any big decisions made by Seattle, Dallas or Toronto until Brondello makes a decision. Her choice will be the first domino to fall, affecting the rest of the choices around the league.

Of course, Toronto can’t put all its eggs in one basket and has been interviewing other prospects. Pickman reported that former Chicago Sky GM/Head Coach, now Raptors assistant, James Wade interviewed for the role, but his candidacy has waned in recent weeks. Other names Pickman mentions are former Atlanta Dream coach Tanisha Wright, former Dallas Wings coach Latricia Trammell, former Washington Mystics coach and current Minnesota Lynx assistant Eric Thibault, and Indiana Pacers assistant Jenny Boucek.

Toronto Tempo highlights in Ben’s reporting:

-Tempo are targeting Brondello (who wouldn’t be tbh)
-interviewed James Wade but he seems to have faded as a candidate
-other names connected include Tanisha Wright, Latricia Trammell, Eric Thibault, Jenny Boucek https://t.co/flutYeBjdd

— chelsea leite (@chelsealeite) October 17, 2025

Outside of Pickman’s report, another name of a coach who could step up into a leading role soon is Krisi Tolliver. Currently the Phoenix Mercury’s associate head coach, Tolliver is a former WNBA player with assistant coaching experience in both the WNBA and NBA. Her name is constantly swirling around WNBA head coaching reports, and it seems inevitable that she will get a shot soon.

Yet, there is also a trend being seen in WNBA head coaching searches that is prioritizing NBA assistants, particularly men, frankly. Phoenix started with Nate Tibbetts, who just took the Mercury to their second WNBA Finals appearance in 5 years. The Fire chooses Sarama continues this trend, and the New York Liberty seem to be interviewing coaches with NBA coaching experience. Outside of just men with NBA experience, there was a shift last season to hire more male WNBA coaches. Karl Smesko replaced Tanisha Wright in Atlanta, Rachid Meziane replaced Steph White in Connecticut, and Tyler Marsh replaced Teresa Weatherspoon in Chicago. Another note, as Noelle Quinn parted ways with the Seattle Storm, it also meant that there are currently no Black women holding WNBA head coaching jobs.

Right now, six of the WNBA’s 11 coaches (not including the vacant jobs) are men. With teams being vocal about dipping into the NBA hiring pool, there may be more men hired in the coming weeks.

Of course, Tolliver has NBA experience as well, and there are several women in assistant positions in the NBA. Becky Hammon was once an assistant on the San Antonio Spurs, and Teresa Weatherspoon spent many seasons on the New Orleans Pelicans staff before she coached the Chicago Sky for one season. Jenny Boucek is of course currently in that position with the Pacers. The Toronto Raptors have former WNBA player Mery Andrade on their staff, and while Brittni Donaldson is currently climbing the ranks in Atlanta, she started her career in Toronto as well.

It will be interesting to see, as these last WNBA coaching vacancies are filled, whether some of these women are chosen or if the trend of male-centred hires continues.

For now, all we can do is wait to see which direction the Toronto Tempo will go. It seems like a decision is coming soon, though.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/toronto-wnba-team/48246/toronto-tempo-head-coach-search-wnba-offseason

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors lean on excitement in Toronto, defeat Nets in pre-season finale

Despite the Toronto Blue Jays playing in game five of the ALCS nearly 4,000 miles away, baseball fever coursed through the confines of the Scotiabank Arena, where the Toronto Raptors defeated the Brooklyn Nets 119-114 on Friday.

Both Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic and Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez fielded questions from the media before the game about Blue Jays manager John Schneider’s interaction with pitcher Max Scherzer. The Blue Jays game was played on the Jumbotron before tip-off and during halftime. Fans throughout the arena kept one eye on the court while occasionally glancing down at their phones.

There’s nothing like a Toronto sports team on the cusp of it all.

Tonight’s halftime show.#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/vDPNt8beAh

— Kristian Cuaresma (@kriscuaresma_) October 18, 2025

In the interest of having some of the Blue Jays’ aura rub off on the Raptors, here are the Raptors HQ player recaps in the form of a batting order.

Lead-off: Immanuel Quickley​

Quickley could be the X-factor for the Raptors this season and it begins with his impact on the offensive end, both in transition and in the half-court.

His speed was on full display on a night when the Raptors forced 23 turnovers. Quickley often made it difficult for a young Nets team to find their bearings in transition, leading to easy opportunities for players like Ja’Kobe Walter and Jakob Poeltl early in the half.

Entering his sixth season in the league, Quickley’s volume and efficiency will be a fun storyline to track. His first 12 points came on spot-ups. Quickley also snapped the Nets’ 12-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter with four points of his own.

He finished top two on the team in field goal attempts during the Raptors’ previous two pre-season outings, averaging 15 shots on 30 per cent. Last season, Quickley averaged 13.3 attempts on 42 per cent shooting. Against the Nets, Quickley finished with 18 points on 16 shots.

No. 2 Hitter: RJ Barrett​

There’s something about Barrett’s game that can never be fully appreciated through the box score. He seeks out contact on both ends and willingly does the little things that lead to a win. In one sequence during the second quarter, Barrett prevented a dunk before racing down the other end for a flush of his own.

His three-point percentages, particularly out of the corner, will be a sticking point this year. But when his catch-and-shoot threes are falling, he fits the archetype that excels in a Brandon Ingram-led team. Barrett finished the night with 25 points while shooting 42.8 per cent from three.

Three-hole: Scottie Barnes​

The discourse surrounding Barnes’ befuddling pre-season play style has certainly taken on a life of its own. While it’s naive to believe the online chatter had any impact on Barnes’ performance against the Nets, he looked like an entirely different player from the opening tip.

There seemed to be a concentrated effort by Barnes to attack the rim. By the end of the first quarter, the former All-Star led all scorers with 11 points, with each of his buckets either coming at the rim or at the free throw line.

According to Barnes, his instincts tonight can be credited to the coaching staff.

“They’ve been telling me to play with force and get downhill,” said Barnes.

Barnes was just as aggressive on the defensive end, finishing with three steals and one blocks. He was just an absolute force on both ends, particularly during the closing minutes of the contest. The game and stats may not count, but Barnes’ performance should quiet doubts until the season opener.

“That’s what pre-season is for, trying things out and finding your groove,” said Barnes.

Cleanup: Brandon Ingram​

While the Blue Jays were fighting for the road sweep in their final game in Seattle, the Raptors were playing in their final warm-up game.

But even if the stakes couldn’t have been on further ends of the spectrum, it still turned out to be a benchmark evening in Raptors history. On Welcome Brandon Ingram Night, the six-foot-eight forward made his highly anticipated home debut, and did so in dramatic fashion.

Brandon Ingram’s first bucket as a Raptor comes in the form of a flare up from the corner with a Poeltl screen.

BI walks into his signature midrange jumper at the 5:21 mark.

The Notorious B.I.G chorus is his in-arena bucket sound #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/idIaLaWvpY

— Kristian Cuaresma (@kriscuaresma_) October 17, 2025

Ingram had 13 points, six assists and three steals in his first home game. With the Atlanta Hawks’ scouts likely in the building before their season-opening clash on Oct. 22, it was interesting that Ingram didn’t touch the ball until almost three minutes into the game. Ingram didn’t take his second shot until the 5:21 mark, which ended up being his first bucket of the night.

Despite taking a backseat on a night dedicated to him, Ingram took centre stage when the game hung in the balance. His game-winner from the left wing sent an already delirious crowd into a frenzy. Ingram was as smooth as ever and looks ready for the season to begin.

No. 5 hitter: Jakob Poeltl​

Poeltl is the stabilizing force the Raptors can’t afford to be without. The Raptors centre left the game with lower back stiffness. It was later confirmed by Rajakovic that it was more of a precautionary measure.

Poeltl finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with a pair of steals and blocks. His health, like many of his teammates, will continue to be a development worth obsessing over through the course of the season.

No. 6 Hitter: Sandro Mamukelashvili​

Mamukelashvili joined the Raptors on a two-year deal with a player option because he knew there was a chance for him to carve out an important role on the roster.

In the pre-season finale, Mamukelashvili led the bench with 10 points and 5 rebounds. His ability to run the floor and deploy a nifty collection of finishes is a nice change-up to Poeltl’s skillset. While he’s not the defensive expert that Poeltl is, Mamukelashvili flashed potential as a weak side rim protector.

No. 7 Hitter: Ochai Agbaji​

A wrench was thrown into the Raptors’ plan to get their starters meaningful reps in a close matchup when it was announced Poeltl wouldn’t return. It was Agbaji whom the Raptors initially relied on in an attempt to go small to counter the Nets’ quickness.

Some Darko insight on potential rotation:

– Some nights will take matchup-based approach

– There’ll be players in the second unit that won’t get minutes that they’re used to

– Expects players to be productive in short stints

Follow @RaptorsHQ for updates.#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/FlUeDupaWr

— Kristian Cuaresma (@kriscuaresma_) October 17, 2025

Agbaji missed all three of his three-point attempts in the fourth quarter, which may have led to the decision to replace him in the closing minutes.

“I tried to play guys higher minutes and treat it like a regular season game,” said Rajakovic.

Significantly, Rajakovic still viewed Agbaji as his primary pivot. But Agbaji needs to rediscover the shooting stroke he weaponized last season, regardless of how sound he is on defence.

No. 8 Hitter: Jamal Shead​

Shead outperformed expectations in his rookie season last year, and that makes the backup point guard position his to lose. Rookie Chucky Hepburn is undoubtedly doing his best to apply pressure on Shead, but the job likely remains with the former Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

An early turnover wasn’t the start Shead planned for, but he constantly pestered the Brooklyn guards during inbounds or when they attempted to set up their offence. His most memorable moment came when he raced out to block a corner three by Noah Clowney. He didn’t attempt a single shot in his 14 minutes of play. It looks like Shead is still trying to find his rhythm while leaving space for the trio of Gradey Dick, Agbaji, and Walter to continue their pre-season battle.

No. 9 Hitter: Gradey Dick​

The 21-year-old struggled with his jumper tonight, going 2-for-7 in 20 minutes. His first bucket of the game came on a floater as he tiptoed the right baseline, while his other score came on a dunk.

But as Toronto sports fans know, the number nine spot is still an opportunity to make a difference. Dick has hit seven threes on 46.6 per cent during the pre-season. The Kansas product will have several opportunities this season to contribute and leave his mark.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-t...t-in-toronto-defeat-nets-in-pre-season-finale

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Sandy Brondello to be named Toronto Tempo Head Coach, per reports

Per Howard Megdal at The IX Basketball, the Toronto Tempo will be hiring Sandy Brondello as their first head coach.

Last week, I theorized on here about the fit of Brondello as the Tempo’s head coach, and it’s a great fit. The Toronto Tempo have been vocal about their desire for their head coach to be someone who has the experience to be a global ambassador. Brondello is just that.

After her career as a player, Brondello has gone on to win two WNBA championships (one with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014 and one with the New York Liberty in 2024). She also coaches the Australian national women’s team.

Here’s what I wrote specifically about what could bring Brondello to the Tempo:

Then there is Toronto. A similar situation to Dallas, given that the team’s inaugural roster will likely be youth-focused. Yet, the uniqueness in Toronto is that Brondello would be creating everything from scratch, and likely have a lot of rope to experiment, given the likely lack of pressure to succeed immediately. There is also the fact that Brondello is Australian, and perhaps the idea of coaching in the WNBA’s lone non-USA market is appealing to her and her family.

The Tempo have yet to officially announce Brondello as their coach. When they do, they will likely bring her to the city for a welcome ceremony and press conference.

BREAKING: Per @howardmegdal, Sandy Brondello will be the first coach of the expansion Toronto Tempo.https://t.co/xXCVjlmWqE

— The IX Basketball (@TheIXBasketball) October 22, 2025

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/toronto-w...ondello-toronto-tempo-head-coach-reports-wnba

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors set franchise record in blowout win vs. Hawks

With the Eastern Conference in flux, several teams made renovations to their rosters in an attempt to plant a flag on one of the available playoff spots.

On a night when two teams finally got the chance to debut their starting lineups in a meaningful game, it was the Toronto Raptors who staked their claim as an early emerging threat after defeating the Atlanta Hawks 138-118 on Wednesday.

In addition to the Raptors setting a franchise record for points in a season opener, here are the key takeaways from the matchup in a quarter-by-quarter recap:

Q1: Racing for Buckets, Anchored by Fouls​

The Raptors finished in the bottom seven in points per game last season, so it was a pleasant surprise to watch the team race out to 36 points by the end of the opening quarter. Toronto scored 16 points before the 7:30 mark.

It all started with Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes attacking the paint. Most of the time, it resulted in a point-blank look or the offence creating secondary actions. RJ Barrett was the recipient of two early open opportunities from three due to the collapsing defence. He knocked down both triples.

Another reason for the Raptors’ quick start was their defence and an emphasis on getting out in transition. Toronto finished the first frame with a 9-0 advantage in fast break points.

Ironically, the aggressiveness on defence did keep the Hawks within striking distance. The Raptors finished the opening quarter with nine fouls, which led to 15 free throws. On the other end, Toronto attempted two free throws.

Q2: Winning Moments​

Toronto took a 65-59 lead into halftime despite a push from Atlanta to close out the quarter. It seems the team has the weapons to win enough small battles they’ll come across in a typical 48-minute contest.

Two sequences that stick out didn’t involve Ingram.

The first came at the 9:17 mark. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic opted to go with Barrett, Jamal Shead, Ochai Agbaji, Jamison Battle, and Jonathan Mogbo. It was the first time the Raptors didn’t have at least two starters on the court. Some of the reasoning by the lineup composition had to do with managing foul trouble.

The lineup played for 1:40, but they were only outscored 4-3 during that stretch. The Hawks were 2-for-3 from the field, while the Raptors went 1-for-3, with Shead hitting a triple. Agbaji also clanked a three, his first of two misfires in the half.

The second sequence occurred late in the quarter when Ingram subbed out with three fouls at the 2:30 mark. Despite the Hawks crowd getting into it, the Raptors closed out this stretch on a 6-5 run. Toronto also forced the Hawks into two turnovers, including a moment when Dick stole the ball from Young on an outlet pass, before later drilling a baseline fadeaway.

Q3: Bully-Ball and Bench Grit​

Barrett and the Raptors couldn’t agree on an extension but both parties may be better off because of it. The Canadian wing finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists on 75 per cent shooting. He also finished 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. When Hawks forward Jalen Johnson flexed on Barnes after getting the hoop and the harm, Barrett responded on the next possession with his own and-one call. Barrett is a running back masquerading as a shooting guard, and when he gets to his left hand, he’s a force that’s difficult to contain. He was a big reason why the Raptors finished 11-of-11 at the rim in the third quarter.

One of the best moments in the quarter occurred when Rajakovic went to the Ingram and bench (Shead, Dick, Agbaji and Sandro Mamukelashvili) lineup. Both Dick and Agbaji, who struggled with their offence in the first half, each secured an offensive rebound during the same possession, resulting in a gritty two points.

Dick looked tremendous in the third quarter. He has never been the sniper archetype that some fans pegged him as. Dick’s real value comes as a hustle scorer that happens to be a serviceable outside shooter. His length comes into play when he has to create something with a short clock.

The Raptors were on a 14-0 run before Kristaps Porzingis hit a pair of free throws with 12.9 seconds left.

Q4: Garbage time in the ATL​

Mamukelashvili has the potential to be everything that was promised with Aron Baynes. He’ll play a massive role for the Raptors this season as the only big man behind Jakob Poeltl. Mamukelashvili was especially impressive when he attacked closeouts. He has the passing chops and a startling and impressive array of finishing moves to make defences pay for their aggressiveness. The former San Antonio Spur finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Shead also played admirably as the backup point guard. Rookie Chucky Hepburn was winning over fans during Summer League and the pre-season. But Shead was the perfect type of stabilizing defensive pest that the bench needed tonight.

A few nitpicks. At some point, the Raptors will need the 2024-25 Agbaji to reappear. When he’s playing the way fans are accustomed to, Agbaji is truly the perfect auxiliary piece next to Ingram and Barnes. Quickley was brilliant with the ball in his hands and at the rim. But he struggled with his outside jumper, shooting 0-for-7 on the night. The Raptors can steal a playoff spot if Quickley reliably punishes teams this year.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...-set-franchise-record-in-blowout-win-vs-hawks

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Rap-Up: Season 31 loading

Welcome to another season of The Rap-Up! This is the 8th season of my weekly post, where I preview the week ahead for Toronto Raptors games.

There’s a weird feeling in the air surrounding Scotiabank Arena. Masai Ujiri is gone. Toronto’s season starts on the road for the first time in 14 years. After spending one season in rebuild mode, the team is ratcheting up the intensity (not just on the defensive end) with the hopes of returning to the playoffs. Brandon Ingram will finally make his Raptors debut.

Oh, and there’s a World Series happening down the road!

If the Toronto Blue Jays have taught us anything during this magical season, it’s that success can come quicker than expected if everything breaks right. Stars turn into superstars. Rookies and young prospects improve. Coaches pull all the right levers. Competition takes a step back or underachieves. Sprinkle in a touch of 2019 Championship vibes, and the feeling becomes palpable, nationwide.

Remember, the Blue Jays started the season with low expectations and jumped out to a very slow start. Their hardcourt cousins have a difficult schedule to start the season. Let’s take a look at how things fare in opening week.

October 22 @ Atlanta Hawks

Flashback all the way to Boxing Day 2011 (strike-shortened season) for the last time Toronto opened its season on the road. The Raptors were still 522 days away from hiring Masai Ujiri. Toronto’s starting 5 included the late Rasual Butler, and the team leader in minutes played that day was James Johnson (off the bench, no less).

The last time we opened the season on the road was in Cleveland back in 2011. Take a look back at how it went down. pic.twitter.com/U6Cm6I4L5I

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 21, 2025

Andrea Bargnani may have been ahead of his time. Outside shooting 7-footers is much more common in today’s NBA. Case and point, Kristaps Porzingis. Atlanta was the surprise winner of Boston’s fire sale, nabbing Porzingod in a 3-team deal with Brooklyn, only giving up Georges Niang, Terrence Mann, Drake Powell, and a 2031 second-rounder.

The Hawks are this year’s sleeper-pick-that-will-likely-disappoint, taking over the title occupied by the Orlando Magic last year. Larry Nance Jr and Caris Levert signed elsewhere, while Clint Capela was traded to Houston. In addition to adding Porzingis, Atlanta beefed up the perimeter with the additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. Just as important, if not more, is the return of Jalen Johnson. He was playing like an All-Star before going down with a season-ending shoulder injury in late January.

The pressure to compete and take advantage of a depleted conference is higher in Atlanta. After firing GM (and former Raptor) Landry Fields, the Hawks hired Onsi Saleh, who previously worked with the Golden State Warriors during their most recent championship run. Saleh has made his mark with the franchise and positioned the team to succeed in 2025-26.

Fun fact that may only interest me

Nickeil Alexander-Walker showed his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, some love and waited in line to buy a pair of his new shoes. I love this on so many levels, but mostly for Canada Basketball!

He waited 12 HOURS IN THE RAIN to be the first person to buy a pair of his cousin’s shoes!

Atlanta Hawks’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the first person in line at KITH Toronto for the Converse SHAI 001 https://t.co/MXiw0bahRj pic.twitter.com/jwncoz6dxF

— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) September 4, 2025

Prediction

This is such an intriguing matchup because, while both teams have expectations to improve on last year’s standing, the Hawks have loftier goals and, thus, more pressure. Atlanta added more big names than Toronto, already had a playoff-calibre team (lost in the final play-in game to Miami last year), and has already been Conference Finalists with Trae Young at the helm. However, a Toronto upset is absolutely in the cards. Immanuel Quickley’s added bulk and defensive improvement, along with Jamal Shead’s aggressive defense will make life rough for Ice Trae. Reigning Most Improved Player (and 2nd-place vote-getter for Defensive Player of the Year), Dyson Daniels, will have his hands full with a rejuvenated Brandon Ingram. The Raptors’ budding chemistry overcomes the star power of the Hawks as Toronto wins and covers the +5.5 spread.

October 24 vs Milwaukee Bucks

What a time to be in downtown Toronto!

The Raptors’ home opener falls on the same night as Game 1 of the World Series. As if parking wasn’t expensive enough, the Blue Jays’ first appearance in the championship series in 32 years will certainly set record prices throughout the downtown core. This may not be the case here, but my cousin in Seattle paid $100 USD for parking at Game 4 of the ALCS. Gulp!

Inside Scotiabank Arena, it should be a loud, raucous crowd for several reasons. Giannis Antetokounmpo is somehow still with the Bucks. He has spent most of the offseason fielding questions about his future in Milwaukee. After Damian Lillard tore his Achilles during last season’s playoffs, Giannis’ dreams of winning another title appeared to be with another franchise.

While the world waits for Giannis to request a trade (at this point, I feel like he’s too nice to ever request a trade), Jon Horst will continue trying to make fetch happen build a championship team around the Greek Freak. He managed to steal Myles Turner from the Pacers to supplant the loss of long-time frontcourt mate, Brook Lopez. Milwaukee also signed Cole Anthony and Gary Harris because when you lose a magical guard like Lillard, the only solution is to get a pair of Magic Guards (sorry, the season is just starting. Give me more time to get into mid-season form).

Fun fact that may only interest me

You have to hand it to Jon Horst. Lillard’s injury — and ultimately his buyout/departure — should have handicapped his ability to build a functional roster around Giannis. He’s managed to pick up the best Center on the market and some serviceable guards.

In case that wasn’t enough to appease the face of the franchise, Horst also signed his brothers (plural), Thanasis and Alex (formerly of the Raptors 905). This marks the first time in NBA history that 3 brothers have been on the same NBA team at the same time.

So, if/when Giannis asks out, would it be a package deal for the 3 brothers?

The Bucks signed Alex Antetokounmpo to a two-way deal, joining older brothers Thanasis and Giannis.

It's the first time in NBA history that three brothers will be on the same team.

But it doesn't have to end there.

Another Antetokounmpo, Kostas, is currently playing overseas… pic.twitter.com/oY81qYpqop

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 14, 2025

Prediction

Say what you will about Milwaukee’s front court. It may be the best in the conference. But Toronto has Milwaukee beat in every other area. Quickley will be fine with whoever Milwaukee starts at point. RJ Barrett vs Gary Trent Jr will be fun, but ultimately the Canadian should outperform his former teammate. Ingram or Scottie Barnes will have their way with Kyle Kuzma. All things are coming up “Toronto” on Friday night as the Raptors beat the Bucks and cover the -1.5 spread.

October 26 @ Dallas Mavericks

Around this time last year, Masai Ujiri uttered the word “rebuild” and shifted the entire focus of the franchise towards one goal: Poop for Coop!

Cooper Flagg was already impressing NBA superstars before he played a single game for Duke. Flagg was part of the US Selects team that scrimmaged with the US Olympic team. He not only held his own but outplayed some of the best players in the world. There was no letdown in his freshman season with the Blue Devils. Flagg led his school to the ACC title, a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and won ACC Player of the Year.

Catch @Cooper_Flagg at the starting gate. We promise he won’t be there long. pic.twitter.com/2A3N1LG3Rr

— Gatorade (@Gatorade) October 21, 2025

As luck would have it (at least that’s what the NBA calls it), the Dallas Mavericks — fresh from inexplicably trading away Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis — were able to replenish its superstar cupboard by winning the draft lottery….despite having the fourth-lowest odds of 1.8%.

With Kyrie Irving out until 2026 with a torn ACL, Nico Harrison was able to replace some of that offense by signing D’Angelo Russell.

Fun fact that may only interest me

Dallas has a pair of Canadian guards on the roster headed in opposite directions. Ryan Nembhard, Andrew’s brother, went undrafted in June but signed on with the Mavs on a two-way contract. The younger Nembhard was a star last season with Gonzaga, leading the NCAA in assists per game.

On the other end of the spectrum is Dalano Banton. The Toronto native was not re-signed by Portland and was signed & waived by the Mavericks. Dallas holds his G-League rights (Texas Legends), so we’ll see if Banton can work his way back into the league.

Prediction

The toughest time to face Anthony Davis is the beginning of the season. You know, before he has his annual trips to the injury list. With the freshness of a new season, AD will be a tough cover for Jakob Poeltl on the perimeter and Barnes in the post. As much as I would love to see how Collin Murray-Boyles would perform guarding Davis, he’s already out for the season opener with a forearm strain and may not be 100% by Sunday. Dallas beats the visiting Raptors and covers the -6.5 spread.

Last season: 38-44

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...ors-games-october-20-26-hawks-bucks-mavericks

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto Raptors play home opener against Bucks amid World Series excitement

It’s a huge day in Toronto sports history, but for the Raptors, it’s just game no. 2 of 82. The Toronto Raptors will welcome the Milwaukee Bucks at Scotiabank Arena for their home opener tonight, but the attention of everyone will be just two blocks down the street. With the Blue Jays playing game 1 of the World Series tonight, there has been a different energy in the city.

“I think the energy in the city is awesome,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic at practice Thursday. “Talking to [Raptors players] they were blown away by the energy the fans brought to game seven. They feel that same love coming our way as well.”

Rajakovic was more than happy to hear that the Raptors game would start earlier in the evening, so fans could watch the World Series afterward. The Raptors will now tip off at 6:30 pm, abnormally early for a weeknight (even if it’s a Friday), and Scotiabank Arena will play the World Series on the big screen afterward, encouraging fans to stay in their seats and watch the Jays after the final buzzer.

The Youth Movement in Toronto​

While Trey Yesavage pitches in his first World Series game — his 7th major league start ever — another young rookie may get his debut for the Raptors. Collin Murray-Boyles could not play on Wednesday with a forearm injury, but is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. He participated in practice yesterday, saying that he “feels good” and will play it by ear today when it comes to being active.

If he does play, it would be his “official” NBA debut, and he’s trying to treat it like any other day.

“I’m just looking at it as another game I want my team to win. I’m really focused on myself and trying to help the team win.” CMB said on Thursday.

In preseason games, Darko specifically assigned CMB to guard players like Jokic and Sabonis to help him adjust to defending those kind of players. The literal and figurative giants of the NBA. Murray-Boyles said he took the opportunity to just see what felt natural in the moment, but then went back and watched film to see what he can improve upon. He knows he is coming into the league as one of the best defenders in the rookie class, but he also wants his offence to catch up to that as well. He is working with the coaching staff in that regard and just trying to soak up all the advice he can.

Murray-Boyles happened to be at game seven of the Blue Jays’ series against Seattle, and said the atmosphere was amazing.

“We are trying to make it to the playoffs and hopefully win a championship, that’s always the main goal,” he said, “but seeing [the Jays] get there gives a little added bonus motivation to get to that spot.”

Playing the Bucks after Crushing Atlanta​

The Raptors scored 138 points the other night, beating Atlanta and scoring more points than they did on any night last season. They looked incredible as an offensive unit, something that was pleasantly surprising to onlookers, knowing this team is trying to build on a defence-first mindset.

Now, they face a different challenge. The Milwaukee Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo on their side, and the Greek Freak has the physicality to have a big night. Yet, the Raptors may be more prepped than most to slow Giannis down. Scottie Barnes has a good history of guarding Giannis, and CMB may be thrown in there for a bit. The Bucks also lost Dame Lillard last season when he ruptured his Achilles tendon, meaning they aren’t the powerhouse advertised last season.

If the Raptors can have the same offensive punch they had in Atlanta, plus defend Giannis as well as they are capable of, they could be very successful against the Bucks.

Game Information and Details​

Game time: 6:30 pm EST (EARLIER THAN ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED)

Watch On: TSN

Injury Report:

Toronto: Collin Murray-Boyles (Questionable — forearm), Ja’Kobe Walter (Questionable — Illness)

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Probable — back), Kevin Porter Jr. (out— ankle)

Projected Lineups

Toronto: Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Trent Jr., Myles Turner, AJ Green, Ryan Rollins

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-g...ors-milwaukee-bucks-nba-giannis-barnes-ingram

 

[Toronto Raptors]

How do you solve a problem like Giannis?

The Toronto Raptors’ home opener, which many were considering the “opening act” to the Blue Jays’ World Series opening game, put this fresh Raps squad head-to-head with the Greek Freak. Giannis Antetokounmpo, former NBA MVP and one of the league’s best big men, is a hard match-up for literally anyone. After Toronto was able to win their season opener and score 138 points on Atlanta’s heads the other night, they hoped to bring that momentum back home for this game.

Giannis isn’t the same battle as the defence-averse Hawks, though. Immediately, Giannis’s size, power and agility made it hard for the Raptors to defend him in the post. He made many trips to the line in the first quarter alone.

The thing about Giannis, though, is that he isn’t a guy to play extended minutes. Especially this early in the season, and the Raptors needed to take advantage of those non-Giannis minutes. Non-Giannis minutes mean you have a clearer path to the bucket, that you aren’t risking it all on every defensive possession, and that you can breathe a little easier overall. Rebounding also becomes way easier with Giannis off the floor, and the Raptors capitalized.

The Raptors went on a 16-6 run to start the second quarter while Giannis took a break. The run ended with a huge BI three-pointer that caused Doc Rivers to call a timeout. It seemed like a great start to what would turn into a tough game.

Raptors won the 7.5 minutes that Giannis was on the bench by 8 points, outscoring the Bucks 20-12 over that span

— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) October 24, 2025

The other “new” thing for the Raptors when they play Giannis this season is the fact that they have Brandon Ingram now. In many preseason previews, we’ve harped on and on about how Ingram’s presence alleviates pressure from everyone around him, and that hypothesis is proven right against the Bucks and Giannis. While Scottie Barnes might switch on and off Giannis in years past, he is now the primary defender on Giannis. Why? Well, Scottie doesn’t have to carry the biggest offensive load anymore — that is what Ingram is for.

That relief of pressure allows Barnes to put that much more effort into guarding Giannis, something he is definitely capable of (and confidently, judging by the stare down). Barnes could very well be in the mix for an All-Defensive nod this season, and being able to slow down these types of players will be key if he’s gonna get those votes.

Scottie sheds Giannis loose on ball, knocks him to the floor, hits a layup, walks over and flexes over top of him

Big play! VERY BOLD celebration!

— Samson Folk (the coach) (@samfolkk) October 24, 2025

At a certain point, though, it’s hard to keep Giannis contained. You need to outscore the Bucks and try to slow him down, at least. Another reason why having Ingram is great for the Raptors.

It was a super close game in the fourth quarter, with fans (and let’s be real, media too) switching nervously from the court to our screens to watch the Blue Jays. Ingram’s 26 points mid-way through were supported by Quickley and Barrett, each having 19 of their own, and Scottie had 16 points as the lead continued to flip-flop back and forth.

It was when the Bucks took a 5-point lead with two minutes to go in the fourth that things started to look dicey for the Raptors. Missed free throws from both Barrett and Quickley didn’t help close the gap either. A great steal from Barrett was a glimmer of hope, but they couldn’t convert on the other end. Cole Anthony’s 23 points in support of Giannis’s 31, especially as Anthony was able to get a lot of those late-game buckets, was the kicker. The Raptors could not convert their own chances into points.

Unfortunately, it was an inability to close out the game strongly, plus the never-ending strength of Giannis, that cost the Raptors their home opener. The Milwaukee Bucks won 122 to 116 over the Raptors. A ton of positives to come out of this game, though, especially on the offensive end from the starters.

Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 29 points, 6 rebounds and three assists. He wasn’t the only Raptor in double figures, though, as Barrett had 20 points along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists, shooting 9-12 from the field. Scottie Barnes has 17 points with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Quickley had 19 points of his own, but his three-point shooting was not to the level it could have been.

Immanuel Quickley took accountability for losing the game in post-game press, whether that’s true or not is up to interpretation. He felt like his missed free throws at the end really impacted the team’s ability to close out there in a clutch situation.

After the game, coach Darko Rajakovic said, “Giannis is a force of nature, he converted at the rim pretty well… some aspects of our defence were good. It’s hard to control him, but we did not do a good job controlling their bench and Cole Anthony.”

Darko also said that his team needs to take a look at spacing and do better at getting stops, steals, and defensive rebounding. Overall, though, he was happy with the effort his team showed, saying Giannis had to “earn a lot tonight.”

Another thing Darko emphasized was the time that will be needed to fully see how this starting lineup meshes together. He said it will take “30, 40, games” to see the full picture when it comes to their roster.

The Raptors will now head on the road for two games in Texas, before heading back home next Wednesday.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...s-recap-milwaukee-bucks-giannis-ingram-barnes

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Toronto Raptors will try to emulate Blue Jays postseason success this season

Happy Toronto Raptors season to all who celebrate!

The boys in red (#rippurple) kick off their season on the road Wednesday night, the first time in a decade they are not playing their season opener at home. With the energy in Toronto at a high given the Blue Jays’ World Series appearance kicking off Friday, fans are ready for a revitalized Raptors team to get started.

A lot about the Toronto Raptors feels new this year — Brandon Ingram finally making his debut at the top of the list. After winning it all in 2019, followed by another thrilling season cut short in 2020, it’s been nothing but disappointment for Toronto’s basketball squad. A relocation to Tampa Bay in 2021, a mass exodus of the championship squad in the seasons following. Missing the playoffs for the past few seasons, injuries, and a coaching and front office change have all been the stories of the past few seasons. The team has been slowly trying to rebuild into a contender, and everything points to this season being successful.

Ingram, joined by 2021-22 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, hometown hero RJ Barrett, sharpshooting Immanuel Quickley, the Austrian Hammer Jakob Poeltl, and the team’s supporting cast of youthful talent, will try to return this franchise to the playoffs. Postseason sports in this city, this country, are remarkable, and this team is hungry to get there. Hopefully, seeing the Jays climb to the mountain top this October will motivate the Raptors to give fans another postseason run in April.

Aside from just hopes, though, do the Raptors have what it takes to make it to the playoffs? Let’s dive into 3 reasons they might just be able to make it happen:

Roster Upgrades Paying Off​

Managing a basketball team is a game of chess, not checkers. The immense amount of trades this Raptors team has done in the past few years to rebuild their roster is head-spinning. Yet, that’s the goal: keep making small moves until they aren’t so small anymore.

This iteration of the Raptors’ team started with the squad’s longest tenured player: Scottie Barnes. Drafted No. 4 overall after the team’s terrible Tampa season, Barnes is growing into a vocal and poised leader going into his fifth NBA season. Gone are the days of emotional outbursts, and Barnes showed last season that he is developing into a mature team voice for his squad. Plus, with the right pieces around him, hopefully Barnes will not be asked to do it all this season, focusing on his own developed skill set as a forward and elite defender.

His right-hand man was acquired just a few months ago in a trade, as the team got Brandom Ingram from New Orleans. Ingram’s offensive power is just what this team needed to go along with the defensive-minded guys they usually sign. Ingram seems motivated to get back to winning ways after an unsuccessful tenure in NOLA and an injury that has had him sidelined since December of 2024.

Rounding out the starters are RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl. The big man was re-traded back to the Raptors a few seasons ago from the San Antonio Spurs after the team suffered a few seasons without a true starting center. Poeltl was initially a part of the deal that sent him and DeRozan to Texas in exchange for Kawhi Leonard. He averaged a career-high 14.5 points last season, the team remarkably better when he was on the court, and his two-man game with Quickley is something fans are looking forward to seeing.

Quickley and Barrett came to the team together in early 2024 as part of the O.G. Anunoby trade with the New York Knicks. Initially, Quickley was the focal point of the trade, but Barrett showed incredible advancement in his skill in the first few months of playing for his hometown team. As he described in the new book “We The Raptors” by Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker, coming home for Barrett happened at the exact right time. Near the end of the 2024 season, Barrett’s brother Nathan passed away due to an illness, and Barrett was able to continue playing while also being there for his brother and family during that time. While it’s been tough personally for Barrett since becoming a Raptor, his on-court game continues to be an outlet for him, and his efficiency and power have been highlights in his season and a half here. Now with some of the offensive pressure relieved from him, he can continue making the most of every trip to the basket, and his efficiency will hopefully continue to shine through.

For Quickley, this season is about taking on his role as the team’s starting point guard. He spent a lot of last season injured, and he seems to be healthy heading into this season. On top of facilitation duties, Quickley said at media day that he wants to be taking upwards of 10 three-point attempts per game, something he is capable of. He is another one who will benefit from the attention placed on Ingram in the Raptors’ offence.

Overall, the Raptors’ starting lineup is filled with young talent that is no longer fresh and green and now has the grit and experience to win. These first few games, seeing them play together, will be a test of this team’s aptitude as playoff contenders.

Depth, Remember That?​

It seems like, for the first time in a few years, the Raptors have depth on their bench. Darko will likely deploy a 10-ish man rotation on any given night to start the season, and there is competition for who will get those minutes as you get to the end of the bench.

To start, though, the Raptors have both Gradey Dick and Collin Murray-Boyles ready to rock off the bench. Going into his third season, this team has asked a lot of Dick in his early career. He’s been upgraded to a starter and sent back to the bench repeatedly, and his role has never been the same for too long. Now the hope is that he can come off the bench and provide secondary offence for the team. When he was drafted, a big focal point was his shooting ability — he shot 40.3% from distance in his one college season. He’s shot 35% since coming to the NBA, so there is hope he can get back to his college numbers this season.

Murray-Boyles is coming into his rookie season after being selected No. 8 by the Raptors in this year’s draft. He is Masai Ujiri’s swan song, and the kid looks like he is built like a tank. Despite missing the Raptors’ first game tonight with a forearm injury, there is a ton of excitement at CMB’s potential as a two-way player, but mostly as a defender.

The Raptors also picked up Sandro Mamukelashvili to provide depth at the center position, and guys like Ochai Agbaji, Ja’Kobe Walter, and Jamal Shead will be fighting for some of those minutes as well.

Trouble in the East​

The last factor here in the Raptors’ potential postseason hopes? The outlook of the Eastern Conference, which is… in question.

Injuries to Jayson Tatum in Boston, Dame Lillard in Milwaukee (where he was eventually waived), and Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana make it exponentially harder for three former top teams to imagine making a long postseason run. The 76ers are teetering on washed status, Jimmy Butler left Miami for Golden State, and many of the other East teams just don’t have the juice to be considered power teams.

There are 5 teams I think could be better than the Raptors in the Eastern Conference, giving them a path to a No. 6 seed. Cleveland, of course, has been excellent in recent seasons, leading the East last season with a record of 64-18. The Knicks should do well this year, building on their 51-31 record from last season. Despite losing Tatum, the Celtics still have a shot at being a strong team, with Jaylen Brown leading them. Then there are the Pistons and the Magic, who, similar to the Raptors, have been building and could take advantage of a weak conference this year. There are other teams who may be in the mix as well, but if we are out here making predictions, the Raptors could end up in 6th.

It all starts this week, though, as the Toronto Raptors will try to work off the excellent energy in Toronto by winning their first few games. This season could be the start of a rise in Toronto basketball.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...ba-season-kickoff-playoffs-eastern-conference

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Game preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Toronto Raptors begin their regular season against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST on Sportsnet.

The matchup marks the first time the Raptors open the season on the road since 2011, during which they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-96 on Dec. 8 in a lockout-shortened season.

While rookie Collin Murray-Boyles will have to wait to make his regular-season debut due to a right forearm strain, here are three more storylines to pay attention to during the game.

The last time is now?​

This is it. Seven months from now, this season will be looked back on as either the grand unveiling of the next era in Raptors basketball or our version of the John Cena Farewell Tour.

The Raptors kept Brandon Ingram out last season with Wednesday’s matchup in mind. It’s been 259 days since the trade and yet this will be the first time Raptors fans have seen the starting lineup play together in a meaningful game.

Despite the thought of a compelling debut, it also feels like a prove-it season. The Raptors are one of 14 teams over the luxury tax. Other than a division rival in the Philadelphia 76ers and a Dallas Mavericks squad that just recently added Cooper Flagg, each of these financially driven teams either made the post-season in 2024-25 or is expected to qualify this year.

A playoff spot would help justify the investment in this iteration of the team. Qualifying through a play-in would raise some red flags, but would buy a portion of this core some time. Anything less than that could catalyze a soft reboot of sorts.

Are the Hawks ready to soar?​

The Hawks serve as the perfect litmus test. Like the Raptors, they’ve undergone a metamorphosis and have something to prove. After falling to the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament, Atlanta fired general manager (and former Raptor) Landry Fields and promoted Onsi Saleh. The front office overhaul continued when they brought in New Orleans Pelicans general manager Bryson Graham as the new senior vice president (SVP) of basketball operations and 76ers executive Peter Dinwiddie to serve as SVP of strategy and analytics.

With new decision makers at the helm, the Hawks added Kristaps Porzingis, Canadian Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard. After a breakout season, they also recently extended Dyson Daniels to a four-year rookie extension worth $100 million.

At full health, the Raptors should have their hands full against the Hawks. Trae Young has typically played well against the Raptors. He’s averaging 26 points and 10.2 assists against Toronto during his career. How the Raptors handle Young in a five-out offence or in the fascinating Young and Porzingis pick-and-roll is a key plot line to follow.

Porzingis looked solid in the pre-season finale against the Rockets. He finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 57 per cent from the field. Porzingis will test the Raptors’ defensive limits should he find his rhythm early.

And of course. There’s also Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Onkyeka Okongwu to consider. Raptors fans will certainly learn a lot about their team after this contest.

A new dynamic duo​

With Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic treating his rotation in the pre-season finale against the Brooklyn Nets like a regular-season game, fans noticed at least two of the starters were on the court at all times.

The two starters that will be mostly responsible for how the season shapes out are Ingram and Scottie Barnes. If the game against the Nets is any indication, the two former All-Stars are capable of leading a competitive roster.

Ingram hit the game-winner against Brooklyn, but it was Barnes who set the tone on his way to 31 points, 6 rebounds, three steals and one block.

“I like the force Scottie Barnes played with,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said after the game. “He was our energy booster.”

Ingram played with a similar downhill cannonball in Zion Williamson in New Orleans, so there’s some kind of precedent there. How soon they grow comfortable with each other’s play style and what kind of space can be occupied during which parts of the game will dictate early-season results.

The pair will face a fun test against a quartet of rangy and active defenders in Daniels, Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Okongwu.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-game-previews/48279/game-preview-toronto-raptors-vs-atlanta-hawks