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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