RSS Raptors Team Notes

[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

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Showdown in Dallas as Raptors greet rookie Cooper Flagg

Canada’s team begins its Texas road trip today in Dallas, facing off against the less-than-lucky Dallas Mavericks. The Raptors are getting their first taste of the Western Conference today, and the thought-to-be powerhouse Mavs may be a chance for a Toronto road win.

The Mavericks have had an ugly start to the season, dropping their first two games against the Spurs and the Wizards, victims of a Victor Wembanyama 40 point and 15 board masterclass in the former case, and a Kyshawn George 34 point-career-high in the latter. Cooper Flagg, listed at forward throughout all of college, has been thrust into the role of point guard with Kyrie Irving out. All things considered, the Raptors have the opportunity to strike while the iron is hot, and take advantage of the Mavs’ slow start to steal a game on the road in Dallas.

What to make of the Maine Event?​

Everything is bigger in Texas, however, and the Raptors’ need to be conscious of both the Mavericks’ star power forward, and the team’s massive size overall. Cooper Flagg, as aforementioned, is playing out of position at the 1, and the 6’9 point-forward may prove both an offensive and defensive challenge for 6’3 Immanuel Quickley to manage. Flagg’s ability to facilitate has had its ups and downs in his first two NBA games, but a six inch size difference can mean everything when it comes to offensive success on the interior and the contesting of shots on the perimeter. Quickley is a seasoned point guard, and his shooting ability and skill at distributing the ball may overcome the rookie’s physical prowess on the defensive end. Nevertheless, contending with the athletic forward will be no easy task when the Mavericks are on offense, and will require solid team planning to mitigate an explosive night from the Maine Event.

Big man things​

The size woes do not stop at point guard, as Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl will need to be on top of their game against Anthony Davis. Davis, after years of being forced to play center, has been unleashed at power forward this season, and has been wreaking havoc, averaging 24.5 points and 13 rebounds throughout the past few games. While Barnes is no slouch defensively, at 6’7, matching up against the “6’10” Brow means that careful defensive schemes must be used to avoid Davis bullying his smaller defender in the paint, or leaving center Dereck Lively open during double-teams or mismatches. The twin-tower tandem that the Mavericks are employing has not yet won them a game this season, but Toronto should still be cautious against the All-NBA forward now playing at his natural position.

Nevertheless, the Raptors outclass the Mavericks on the wings, and Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett may end up with big games. Klay Thompson is not the defender he once was, and Barrett may be able to take advantage of his matchup at shooting guard for plenty of buckets. With Collin Murray-Boyles still out, the rookie will not have a chance to lend his rebounding ability to the Raptors in a game against a premier big-man glass cleaner, nor an opportunity to match up against his fellow-2025-draftee, Flagg.

If the Raptors are able to withstand an onslaught on the interior and avoid getting outmuscled, Toronto’s wing scoring poses a serious threat to the floundering Mavericks, who without a real starting point guard, may end up biting the dust at home in Dallas.

Game Information and Details​

Game time: 7:30 pm EST

Watch On: TSN

Injury Report:

Toronto: Collin Murray-Boyles (Questionable — forearm)

Dallas: Daniel Gafford (Out – ankle), Dante Exum (Out – knee), Brandon Williams (Out – personal)

Projected Lineups

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

Dallas: Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/canadian-...kie-cooper-flagg-scottie-barnes-davis-matchup

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Rap-Up: Jump scaring through the first week

Boo! Halloween may be at the tail end of this week, but the spooks and scares are all over the Toronto Raptors’ opening schedule.

After getting bullied by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, and Cooper Flagg, the Raps’ schedule doesn’t get any less daunting. This week’s opponents feature an alien, Aquaman, a Spider, and someone likely toting a gun.

Thankfully, the team is already in the Halloween spirit.

Costumes didn’t miss last night pic.twitter.com/3jQ1BmfgI9

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 20, 2025

October 27 @ San Antonio Spurs

As far as back-to-backs go, Toronto’s first of the season couldn’t have been worse. Less than 24 hours after battling Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis in Dallas, the Raptors fly to San Antonio to face Victor Wembanyama, who is already playing out of this world. Not that the players will notice, but viewership from Raptors fans back home will be fairly muted because tipoff is at the same time as first pitch for Game 3 of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. Wemby may be a once-in-a-lifetime talent, but at least the Raptors face him one more time this season. The Jays haven’t been in the World Series in 32 years!

Back to the Alien, though. Victor opened the season by welcoming Flagg into the NBA with a 40-piece, then followed by swatting 9 shots in an overtime win over the Pelicans.

69 POINTS.
12 BLOCKS.
2 GAMES.

Wemby has been OUT OF THIS WORLD to start the season

He is the 5th player to have 60+ points & 10+ blocks through the first two games of the season since 1973-74… and the 1st since 1990! pic.twitter.com/KaXHxOOYcF

— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2025

Apparently, the Spurs have other players who share the floor with Wemby. Stephon Castle will look to improve on last season’s Rookie-of-the-Year-winning campaign while dodging Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumours. Becoming the first team with three consecutive ROTY winners would be impressive, but second overall pick, Dylan Harper likely won’t have the ball enough to make an award-winning impact. In addition to Wemby and Castle, there’s also De’Aaron Fox (who has yet to suit up this season), Devin Vassell (the team’s 3rd-leading scorer last season), and Harrison Barnes (who started all 82 games last season).

Fun fact that may only interest me

Basketball Reference’s catch-all metric, Game Score, calculates a player’s productivity in a single game. Wembanyama’s season-opening line — 40 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, 71% FG% — was the first time he amassed a Game Score that high (37.6) in fewer than 30 minutes.

Victor became the 26th player in NBA history to have a Game Score of at least 37 while playing less than 30 minutes. He’s the youngest to accomplish the feat, edging out Jayson Tatum by 23 days.

Prediction

In case you’re thinking of switching channels to the World Series whenever Wemby sits, it’s probably worth noting that two of San Antonio’s backup Centers are former Raptors: Bismack Biyombo and Kelly Olynyk. Wow, this team is so hard to dislike.

On Friday, Giannis shot 11-of-14 en route to a 31-point, 20-rebound, and 7-assist outing. On Sunday, Anthony Davis shot 11-of-14 and finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Playing its 3rd game in 4 nights, and the second game of a road back-to-back, the sky is the limit (or is it?) for what Wemby will do to the Raptors. Spurs defeat the visiting Raptors and cover the -5.5 spread.

October 29 vs Houston Rockets

Houston’s only visit to Toronto was likely one of the first games to sell out after the Rockets acquired Kevin Durant and instantly became title contenders.

However, Fred VanVleet, the team’s only experienced true Point Guard, IS out for the season with a torn ACL. Houston is winless after a double overtime loss to the defending champion, Oklahoma City Thunder, on opening night, and a home loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Head Coach Ime Udoka has gone with a jumbo lineup to start games: Amen Thompson (7’ wing span), Jabari Smith Jr. (6’11), Kevin Durant (6’11), Alperen Sengun (6’11), and Steven Adams (6’11). Jumbo might not be a large enough word. Considering the space connotations with the team name, what about calling them the Asteroid lineup? Whether it’s KD’s shooting gravity or Sengun’s Nikola Jokic-like talent, Adams has had no problems imposing his will. Aquaman currently leads the NBA with 5.5 offensive boards per game.

Rockets starting the ALL-TALL lineup on opening night pic.twitter.com/vH70HAyoMw

— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) October 20, 2025

Fun fact that may only interest me

In 2007, Kevin Durant was drafted 2nd overall by the Seattle Supersonics. A few minutes later, Jeff Green was drafted 5th overall by the Celtics, then traded to Seattle in a package that landed Ray Allen in Boston.

Little did either know that it would be the final season in Seattle before the team was stolen and moved to Oklahoma City.

Fast forward 18(!!) years, and the last two active players to play for the Sonics have reunited in Houston.

Bonus fact: Steven Adams was drafted by the Thunder in 2013. He played all but one game in his rookie season, a season in which his teammate, Kevin Durant, won his only regular-season MVP.

Prediction

Houston’s gigantic lineup may have trouble with Toronto’s aggressive defense. Without a true Point Guard, the Rockets may cough up the ball a lot and ignite the Raptors’ vaunted transition offense.

On the flip side, Toronto’s aggressive defense may prove costly against Houston’s penchant for getting to the line. The Rockets rank 1st in free throws attempted and made.

This matchup is filled with intriguing pairings. KD and Brandon Ingram dueling for lanky mid-range supremacy. Barnes and Sengun flirting with triple-doubles. Adams and Jakob Poeltl battling for rebounds like a pair of sumo wrestlers. Green and Garrett Temple sharing stories about what it was like growing up in the 80s.

Ultimately, Houston comes through with a victory and covers the -7.5 spread.

October 31 @ Cleveland Cavaliers

For the 4th time this week, the Raptors have to compete with the Blue Jays for Toronto sports fan viewership. If the Jays are still playing on Halloween, they are either 1 win (or 2 home wins) away from a World Series title. In other words, for the 4th time this week, viewership will be down.

Which is a shame because the Raptors have the ultimate litmus test awaiting them in Cleveland. The Cavaliers and New York Knicks are the cream of the crop in the East. Every other team in the conference has at least one major flaw preventing it from reaching the top tier. Cleveland has started the season without All-Star Darius Garland and fellow starter Max Strus. De’Andre Hunter missed the first two games with a knee injury, but made his debut during Cleveland’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

Head Coach Kenny Atkinson is in no rush to get the full squad on the court. The benefit of being in a two-horse race for a trip to the NBA Finals is that all health-related issues have one unifying goal: be healthy for the playoffs.

Fun fact that may only interest me

Lonzo Ball was drafted 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft. The oldest of Lavar’s boys was supposed to be the next great Point Guard in La La Land. After two sub-.500 seasons, Ball was included in the Anthony Davis trade that landed Lonzo in New Orleans. The Lakers would go on to win a championship the following season.

Rebuilding after the departure of AD was always going to be tough on the Hornets. After two sub-.500 seasons, Ball was traded to Chicago in a deal that landed Garrett Temple in New Orleans. The Hornets would return to the playoffs the following season.

In his first season with Chicago, the Bulls jumped out to a 27-12 record and firmly in the mix for a playoff spot. Unfortunately for Lonzo, he required surgery on his left knee and was lost for the season. Chicago would return to the playoffs that season.

Ball signed with Cleveland this offseason and has provided quality minutes. Will Lonzo finally make his playoff debut in April?

Join us in wishing Lonzo Ball of the @Cavs a HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY! pic.twitter.com/mQR7dsvddy

— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2025

Prediction

The Raptors have lost 7 of the last 8 meetings with the Cavaliers and 6 of the last 7 at Rocket Arena. Gone are the days of OG Anunoby shutting down Donovan Mitchell. Sure, Scottie always brings a little extra when battling fellow 2021 lottery pick Evan Mobley, but until the Raptors show consistency on both ends of the floor (especially on defense), you have to go chalk in this matchup. Cleveland beats the Raptors and covers the -8.5 spread.

November 2 vs Memphis Grizzlies

Well, this is awkward. (No, not Ja Morant and whether or not he can bring guns into Canada) Memphis’ only visit to Toronto this season has been dubbed ‘Zach Edey Night’. I’m not sure how far in advance that was decided, but Edey is still out with an ankle injury he suffered during the summer and will not be in uniform. Gulp.

As has been the case for many Grizzlies seasons, it seems the injury bug has hit Memphis hard to start the season. Joining Edey on the sidelines is fellow Canadian, Brandon Clarke (knee), super sub, Ty Jerome (who finished 3rd last season in Sixth Man of the Year voting while with Cleveland), and a pair of Juniors, Scotty Pippen and Vince Williams.

New Head Coach, Tuomas Iisalo, has done well to get his squad off to a 2-1 start, despite being short-handed. Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are a tough, battle-tested duo that can carry any roster. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, while off to a slow start, still provides a veteran presence that should stabilize the starting unit. But the big reason Memphis has outperformed in its first week is its latest stellar draft pick, Cedric Coward.

The 11th pick is averaging 19.0 points off the bench, leads the team in steals (1.7), and is easily the best shooter so far (70/73/92 splits!!). If the Grizzlies can ever be fully healthy, they have the blueprint to be the next Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Grizzlies’ scouting dept. needs a raise:

• 2018: JJJ (1st team All Rookie)
• 2019: Ja & Brandon Clarke (both 1st team)
• 2020: Bane (2nd team)
• 2021: Santi Aldama
• 2023: GG Jackson (2nd team)
• 2024: Edey & Jaylen Wells (both 1st team)
• 2025: Cedric Coward

WOW. pic.twitter.com/HNtAlPhwOf

— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) October 26, 2025

Fun fact that may only interest me

Coward was a perfect 6-for-6 from three in Saturday’s win over the Indiana Pacers. Only 2 other players who attended Washington State have hit 6 triples in their rookie seasons: fellow Grizzly, Jaylen Wells, and former Raptor, Malachi Flynn.

The only other Washington State alum to drain 6 threes in a game: Klay Thompson and Aron Baynes. What a collection of names!

Prediction

The Grizzlies are coming to town at the wrong time. Toronto sports fans will either be on a high from winning a World Series (Game 7, if necessary, is the night before) or angry from losing. Regardless, the Blue Jays’ season will be over, and fans will belatedly turn their attention back to the Raptors. That should add a little extra oomph inside Scotiabank Arena.

Memphis’ defense was carved up in a lopsided loss to Miami’s high-paced offense last week, giving up a franchise-record 146 points in regulation. Toronto showed in Atlanta what is possible when the offense is buzzing, transition opportunities are plentiful, and multiple players get going. The Raptors start November on the right foot by winning and covering the -4.5 spread.

Last Week: 2-1

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...-november-2-spurs-rockets-cavaliers-grizzlies

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors struggle in San Antonio against Spurs’ defence

After a tough matchup in Dallas last night, the Toronto Raptors continued their tour of Texas against the San Antonio Spurs. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back on the road this early in the season was evident throughout much of the game. The Raptors trailed throughout and any opportunity they had to get within striking distance was thwarted by the Spurs who are placing themselves as contenders this year. Ultimately, the Raptors fell in San Antonio 103-121.

RJ Barrett was a bright spot in this game, finding ways to score from long range, and somehow even over the outstretched hands of the Spurs’ defence. Finishing with 25 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal, this was another solid performance from him this year. He continues to show his work over the summer paying off.

Slam it home, RJ pic.twitter.com/J00q9bLk7g

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 28, 2025

CMB had another good outing as well, continuing to impress, especially in his efforts defending a variety of the Spurs, including the most challenging matchup of Wemby. He was able to use his length on both ends of the court to end with 19 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, 3 steals and a block, leading the bench in scoring. This was a solid performance from the rookie as he continues to exceed expectations.

CMB First NBA bucket alert pic.twitter.com/LoddPb2FdU

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 28, 2025

In the first quarter, one thing became evident: in case you haven’t been paying attention, Victor Wembayama is an absolute freak of nature. The Raptors struggled against him on both ends. Defensively, he placed himself as a constant rim protector, threatening to block any close shots and taking away lanes to the basket. Offensively, they didn’t have an answer as he dribbled, spun, and stepped his way to the basket or drew fouls in the process. The Raps tried to do what they could, but floundered until he was subbed out part of the way through the first. Then Toronto was able to go on a scoring run, but it was late enough already that they ended the first quarter behind 29-41.

It was really nice to see the Spurs show a welcome back to Mamu who spent some time in San Antonio before coming to Toronto.

The second continued in similar fashion. In reality, this game has exposed how much the Raptors rely on transition and paint scoring and with the hustle of the Spurs and the presence of Wemby, both were a challenge. As a result, they took a lot of outside shots that weren’t falling.

Toronto tried some different looks in the second half, but their shot selection, especially the forced ones in the paint continued to lead to turnovers. A lack of defensive rebounding prevented second chance opportunities, and the pace of the Spurs certainly tired them out. By the end of the third, the deficit continued to hover around 20.

At times in this matchup, the Raptors had excellent ball movement and offense, getting them good looks like this:

Ball moving smooth like butter pic.twitter.com/YcU1UYZ8mR

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 28, 2025

The one improvement for the Raptors in the second half was their defence, and although they weren’t initially able to draw even, the fourth gave them an opportunity to capitalize on careless turnovers by the Spurs. A 9-0 run by Toronto was their final push, but it forced San Antonio to call a timeout. They regrouped and rebuilt their lead and Toronto was unable to recover.

The Raptors fall to 1-3, now able to return home to host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, October 29 at 6:30. Tune in as they try to use the rest and homecourt advantage to return to the win column.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...struggle-in-san-antonio-against-spurs-defence

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Collin Murray-Boyles gets first NBA start in loss to Rockets

It feels like this is a recurring theme in Toronto Raptors lore these days, but another young player is being asked to step up amid injury early on in the season. With Jakob Poeltl out with back soreness, it was time for rookie Colin Murray-Boyles to step up, and the No. 9 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft got his first professional start Wednesday night. It was against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, and CMB’s staunch defensive power was definitely a reason it was him who was called up to fill the vacancy in the Raptors lineup.

Despite the defensive strength of Murray-Boyles, the fact that both Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes had near 30 pieces, AND the fact that we were given free bags of Sour Patch Kids on media row, the Raptors couldn’t hang with the Rockets. Alpern Sengun was too much to handle, especially with Poeltl (the Raptors only true center) out, Durant was playing his vintage game, and a major discrepancy in rebounds made it hard for the Raptors to return results.

They lose 139-121 to the Houston Rockets and will now head to Cleveland for a mini road trip before coming back to Toronto before the end of the weekend.

Let’s take a look at a few pros and cons to this Toronto Raptors loss.

Positives: Getting efficient buckets​

In the pros column, it was a pretty good night offensively for Toronto’s stars, as both Ingram and Barnes played well. Barnes led all scorers for Toronto with 31 points, adding on 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block to a very good performance. He shot 11-18 from the field and 4-7 from three point range. Ingram followed closely with 29 points in the game, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. He shot 5-7 from distance, 11-16 from the field, and was a perfect 2-2 from the free throw line.

Even the rookie got in on the distance shooting, something CMB told reporters last week at practice he was working on. Specifically, he said he wanted to match his offensive power with his defensive skill, and was working with Coach Ivo to improve his shot. He shot 75%, 3-4 from three point range tonight, and ended the game with 13 points on 5-8 shooting from the field.

Quiet funny that the Raptors’ offence was the thing keeping them in the mix tonight, given that it’s been such a struggle from them in recent years to get points on the board.

Negatives: Not defending, and letting opponents get MORE buckets than you​

The Houston Rockets were playing bully ball with the Raptors tonight, with their 6-foot-11 centre in Alpern Sengun dominating. Collin Murray-Boyles was so shocked at his size and strength that he told media in postgame that he asked Sengun what his workout routine was mid-game. Clearly, he was hard to handle, and when he couldn’t get his own buckets, he was rebounding AND assisting. He neared a triple-double tonight with 18 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds.

Collin Murray-Boyles says he was shocked at how strong Sengun is, says he “asked him his workout routine in the middle of the game”

— chelsea leite (@chelsealeite) October 30, 2025

Without a true big man on the court, defending a tall team like Houston was going to be hard. We havent even spoken about Kevin Durant yet, with his 31 point night.

Another rough patch for Toronto came in their guard play, as Immanuel Quickly continues to have a rough start to his season. He shot well from distance tonight, going 4-7 from three, but not hitting the 10 attempt minimum that Rajakovic wants him to reach in every game. He shot 5-11 from the field, and also made 7 assists, so while he definitely isn’t reaching his full (and expected) potential yet, he could very well be on his way.

The team also got brutally out rebounded by the Rockets, only making 22 compared to Houston’s 53, and 36 of those were defensive boards. Again, hard without your big man out there. Overall the team just got out-hustled, and they still need to figure out their defense if they want their offense to mean anything going forward. Their difficult schedule isn’t helping of course, but the Raptors were in it enough tonight that they could have had a shot if they gave themselves more of a chance through defence.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-s...me-recap-houston-rockets-durant-ingram-barnes

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Darko Rajakovic says new Seattle Storm HC “made him a better man”

There was an influx of WNBA coaching hires in the past week, including, of course, the Toronto Tempo hiring former New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello. One of Brondello’s former assistants was hired as well — Sonia Raman will be heading across the country to the Seattle Storm, the first pro-league head coaching position for Raman. While Raman has the connection now with Brondello in Toronto, she has another Toronto connection with Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic.

Before Raman spent time on Brondello’s staff with the Liberty, she worked as an assistant with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. She had three years of overlap with Rajakovic before he was hired by the Toronto Raptors, and Raman only stayed another year herself before heading to New York.

The news of Raman’s hiring was reported last Friday, just hours before the Raptors’ home opener against Milwaukee. Earlier this week, the Storm officially announced that Raman had been hired. While there were reports she had also interviewed for the opening in New York, Raman’s partner lives and works in Seattle, making the move make sense from a personal level.

The Raptors were back home in Toronto Wednesday night, welcoming Kevin Durant and the VanVleet-less Houston Rockets to town. Before the game, Rajakovic was asked about his time working with Sonia Raman in Memphis.

“Very happy for Sonia, congratulations to her for getting that job,” he said. “She definitely earned it, and I am very happy she’s going to Seattle.”

Darko went on to say that Raman was actually the first female coach he had worked with in his career, and he had no idea what to expect from his new coworker at the time. Looking back now, he says he was “so lucky and so happy to have [Raman in Memphis].” Obviously, Raman was his first female coaching colleague, but certainly not his last. When Rajakovic got to Toronto, one of the coaches on his initial staff was former WNBA player Mery Andrade. Andrade is still on the Raptors staff today, and primarily works with the team’s younger and less experienced players on their development.

Rajakovic was thrilled to hear Raman had been hired by the Storm and would be transitioning into a new role as head coach. He praised her as a coach and a leader, saying, “She’s an outstanding person, an outstanding coach, and so smart. I’m very, very happy for her.”

“She made me a better coach and a better man,” he finished, the praise incredibly heartfelt and genuine from Rajakovic, who often has similar kind things to say about everyone from his own assistants to his players and more. As a coach who is known league-wide for his relationship-building, Darko was congratulated by many Memphis Grizzlies players when he was hired by Toronto — Raman seems to be getting that same treatment from her former NBA and WNBA players.

https://t.co/Br2wlZdszH

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) October 24, 2025

Go Sonia!! https://t.co/S9b1XaiXKN

— Isabelle Harrison (@OMG_itsizzyb) October 24, 2025

In Seattle, Raman will be tasked with developing one of the WNBA’s best young players — Dominique Malonga. Malonga was the Storm’s return for having to trade Jewell Loyd away between the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Loyd went to Las Vegas and won another championship; the Storm were able to draft Malonga No. 2 overall only after Paige Bueckers.

Malonga had a fantastic rookie season, getting more playing time near the end of the season and into the Storm’s three-game first-round series against the Las Vegas Aces. She played especially well against four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, leading to a ton of speculation about what year two and beyond will look like. Raman will have a ton to work with as the dynamic Frenchwoman — just 19 years old when she was drafted — continues to develop.

Plus, if she needs any advice going into her first head coaching season, she can just call her former coworker and friend Darko Rajakovic.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/all-women...kovic-sonia-raman-seattle-storm-wnba-coaching

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Down big pieces, Raptors and Cavs start off NBA Cup

The Raptors continue their road trip, heading north from Texas to Ohio, where they’ll get their first look at this season’s Cleveland Cavaliers squad. The two teams will kick off the third annual NBA Cup in the Rocket Arena, competing for first blood in the tournament, and the first steps to the pile of cash awarded to the victors.

Both teams are coming off of road losses, with the Raptors nursing their wounds from Wednesday’s defeat by the Houston Rockets, and the Cavs being trounced by the Boston Celtics on the same day. The teams have seen a marginal difference in success in the first five games, with the Raptors sitting on a 1-4 win-loss ratio, and the Cavaliers a 3-2, reflecting some continuity from last season’s dynamic. The Raptors’ Eastern Conference opponents have a balanced back-court and front-court, led by perennial All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell while being anchored by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Evan Mobley. However, both teams are entering Friday’s game battered, without important members of their lineups. This game will be a test to see how well each team is able to perform without some of their most important starters.

Big Man Problems​

With Jakob Poeltl missing tonight’s game, the Raptors are particularly shorthanded at the centre position, not ideal when going up against an All-NBA, All-Defensive menace in Mobley. In the past two games, the Raptors have matched up with star big men and have been thoroughly defeated. We were killed on the boards by the Rockets led by Alperen Sengun, and similarly served as a coming out party for Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks, who dropped a season high 22 points, while Anthony Davis picked up 25 and 10 against Toronto.

Even with 6 ‘9 Sandro Mamukelashvili backing up Collin Murray-Boyles, and Scottie Barnes bringing his length and defensive prowess, playing against two experienced big men in Mobley and Allen will be a challenge for the Raptors. However, injury concerns from the Cavaliers might negate this issue.

Bruised and Battered​

While the absence of Poeltl will be strongly felt for Toronto, the Cavs are in a similar situation: with Darius Garland out, their primary facilitator is no longer a weapon in their arsenal, and the team is is considerably worse shape than it would be otherwise. The Cavaliers, however, have the potential for an even more barren roster should potential injuries take shape for Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen. If the Cavs are indeed forced to play without the bulk of their starters, this would decisively shift the matchup in favour of the Raptors who are for the most part healthy, starting the season.

Both Barnes and Brandon Ingram are coming off high scoring games in Houston, and seeing them recapture that energy tonight against the Cavs would be ideal. With Donovan Mitchell potentially out, the Raptors embodying some of their new offensive energy and aggressive defense to focus on outscoring the Cavs could be their key to success.

The Cavaliers serve as the Raptors’ most formidable opponents in the group stage for the NBA Cup, and starting the tourney by taking advantage of Cleveland’s injuries could be the key to getting that much closer to Toronto hoisting their first trophy since 2019.

Game Information and Details​

Game time: 7:30 pm EST

Watch On: TSN

Injury Report:

Toronto: Jakob Poeltl (Out – back)

Cleveland: Donovan Mitchell (Questionable – hamstring), Jarrett Allen (Questionable – finger), Sam Merrill (Out – right hip), Darius Garland (Out – toe)

Projected Lineups

Toronto: Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Collin Murray-Boyles

Cleveland: Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, De’Andre Hunter, Jaylon Tyson

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...ba-cup-with-potential-donovan-mitchell-injury

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Highlights from Sandy Brondello’s podcast with Sue Bird

Last week, it was reported that Sandy Brondello will be the first head coach of the Toronto Tempo. While the Tempo have yet to confirm Brondello as their choice, they will announce their hire at a press conference early next week. In the meantime, Brondello got on the Bird’s Eye View podcast with her former teammate Sue Bird as a guest, talking about everything from her upbringing to her coaching philosophy and more.

Brondello, who joined from her home base in Phoenix, Arizona, had a ton of great insights on the changes in women’s basketball over her 30+ year career. She’s played in Australia, in Europe, in the early WNBA days, has medals from her time repping the green and gold on the Olympic and World Cup stages, and has had an incredible coaching career as well. As she prepares to transition into her next role as the head coach of the expansion Toronto Tempo, she brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

Here are some highlights from the podcast, which you can watch here.

Brondello’s father making her a hoop on their farm​

Brondello grew up on a sugarcane farm in rural Australia, telling Bird it took 45 minutes to drive into town for basketball practice. Since her mom couldn’t drive and her dad was busy running a farm, he instead built her a hoop on their farm.

As she describes it, it was a few boards attached to make a backboard, painted white with a black square. A hoop was attached, and Brondello practiced on the grass with her basketball. She credits this environment for her impressive one-bounce pull-up shot, her signature basketball move. She didn’t have room to lay up the basketball, and the grass only allowed her one bounce.

Bird credits Brondello for putting her on avocados​

Sue Bird and Sandy Brondello played one season together for the Seattle Storm, Brondello’s last as a player. They lived next door to each other, and Bird credits Brondello for putting her on avocado toast. Apparently, Sue had never tried avocado before that.

Bird also notes that she watched Brondello a lot as a young player, while Brondello was already in her mid-thirties at the time. She says that Brondello was incredibly fit, and while their team didn’t make the playoffs that year, they still had a great time. Lauren Jackson, probably the best women’s basketball player to ever come out of Australia, won MVP that year despite the team not making the playoffs.

Sandy’s coaching philosophy — players create culture​

One tidbit from the podcast that was incredibly enjoyable, but also relevant to Toronto fans as Brondello comes to coach the Tempo, was when she described her philosophy as a coach. One main pillar of her ideology is, of course, team culture. Yet, she doesn’t like to create it herself.

Instead, she told Bird that she likes to hear from her players on what THEY want the team culture to be. Then, she believes it’s her role as coach to hold them accountable in living out that culture every day. She doesn’t like to boss them around, but believes in discipline, accountability, and collaboration. If the players are bought in, they want that to be the culture, too.

Wilson and Clark are the hardest players to guard in the W​

Bird asked Brondello about the stars she has coached — Taurasi, Griner, Stewart — but then flipped the question on her and asked, Who is hardest to coach against? Brondello had two main answers: A’ja Wilson from Las Vegas and Caitlin Clark from Indiana. Brondello said A’ja is hard to defend, and you just have to hope the shooters around her are having a bad night when you play them. With Caitlin, she noted the fact that she can shoot from such a far distance, and how Clark (when healthy) gave New York some trouble last season.

She also talked about having to strategize on the fly against these players, saying she is “human-driven, data-informed.”

When to know it’s time to move on as a coach​

Bird said it in the podcast — if you aren’t in the world of basketball, you probably don’t understand the natural cycle of something like coaching. Brondello noted that both times she has moved on from a WNBA head coaching job, she knew it was time.

In Phoenix, it was after the 2021 Finals run, when they lost against Chicago, and she told Sue that she knew right after Game 4 of the Finals series that it was likely over for her in Phoenix. She was sadder that time than she was in New York, she noted, because her family had placed roots in Phoenix. Her kids went to school there, her youngest still does; they live there in the offseason. Yet, she knew she needed a new challenge; she said, “It was just time.”

The same thing happened in New York, despite only coaching four seasons for the Liberty as opposed to eight in Phoenix. She knew it was coming, and she understands and can tell when players just need a new voice in the locker room to bring them to the next level. It’s a life cycle, and she noted it’s “a part of the business.”

Brondello’s “free agency” was overwhelming​

As soon as Brondello parted ways with New York, she instantly became the hottest coaching free agent on the market. With vacancies in Seattle and Dallas, as well as the two expansion teams in Portland and Toronto looking for leaders, Brondello had a choice of what her next journey would be.

She said it was “overwhelming,” but she enjoyed the process, noting that when one door closes, another opens. She still has immense love for the game, and a lot she wants to accomplish. She says her philosophy hasn’t changed; she still wants to win, but now she just has to go win with another team. While they were very tactful not to explicitly talk about Brondello’s next chapter with Toronto, since it has not officially been announced yet, Brondello noted she is proud that people “still think she can help their team,” and that she’s still getting opportunities.

It was a great interview with Sue Bird, a lot of insight into who Brondello is as a coach ahead of her time in Toronto.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/wnba-cont...llo-sue-bird-podcast-toronto-tempo-head-coach

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Toronto Raptors’ big three shows out against Memphis

If you decided to cure the Sunday scaries and post-Jays loss blues by watching the Toronto Raptors, you may have been able to tell they were at an immediate advantage tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. That’s because Ja Morant, the Grizzlies’ frontman, had been suspended for one game earlier in the weekend, and this was the game her served that suspension. After letting some frustration boil over last week, it was reported that Morant was suspended due to “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Memphis Head Coach Tuomas Iisalo told the media before the game that Morant’s suspension was a move made by the front office that was in line with the team’s values and supported by everyone in the organization. This isn’t the first time Morant has been suspended by the Grizzlies organization, either. While there is a lot to be contemplated about Morant’s future as a Grizzly, the show must go on, and Memphis had to figure it out without Morant for this road game.

Fun fact: tonight would have marked Ja Morant's seventh consecutive game for the Grizzlies.

He hasn't played in 7 consecutive games since the 2022-23 season.

— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) November 2, 2025

It’s not outrageous to say Morant’s suspension came at a pretty convenient time for the Raptors, too. They are 2-4, winning their Friday night game in Cleveland thanks to the heroics of Jamison Battle to break a four-game losing skid. Not having to deal with Morant was a lucky break as they attempted to extend that streak.

It’s also not egregious to say the Raptors have been lacking in several areas. Their defence is probably the biggest problem they have as a unit, allowing 123.3 points per game (before tonight), and Jakob Poeltl being out not only does not help that, but also has contributed to Immanuel Quickley being all out of whack. Darko Rajakovic wasn’t too worried about Quickley as he fielded questions before the game, saying that he will find his way one, when Poeltl gets back, and two, just by getting into the flow of the season more. In his words, “he’ll be fine.”

So coming into a game where your opponent’s star player is out is a good thing for this Raptors team. Murray-Boyles yet again subbed in for Poeltl in the starting lineup. It was clear pretty early on that the Raptors seemed to have more cohesiveness to their play tonight. Maybe they were inspired by the level of chemistry the Blue Jays have on this year’s squad, and wanted to bring some of the power of friendship back.

It worked, as the Raptors won 117-104, and many of the things they needed to do in order to be successful were executed.

Let’s take a look at three factors in the Raptors’ win tonight:

RJ Barrett is playing incredibly freely​

When the Barrett/Quickley for Anunoby trade originally happened, Barrett was looked at the the “throw-in” player, to make the money work. Oh, how that narrative has changed. Barrett is a different player now than he ever was in New York.

When Ingram joined the team, the idea around it was that his presence would free up his teammates on offence. People speculated Barrett’s role would decrease as a result. Instead, the opposite has happened, and Barrett seems to be playing more freely than he ever has before. It’s like the pressure being taken off of him has made him even better.

“He’s a guy who takes a lot of pride in what he does,” Darko said about Barrett after the game.

He scored 27 points on 10-19 shooting from the field, while having 6 rebounds and 6 assists. He was a team-high +19, just edging out Ingram to lead all scorers in the game.

Collin Murray-Boyles is going to be quite the NBA player​

The rookie came into the league boasting strength and great defence — and he has delivered. He is built like a tank. Tonight, he managed to score more, something he is working on with the Raptors’ coaching staff, as his offensive game is definitely less developed than his defensive game. Yet, just being seven games in, he seems to be progressing quite well.

Tonight he scored 15 points on 50% shooting from the field, making 7 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists as well. While he went 0-3 from distance, his shooting from beyond the arc will improve with time if his other stats are any indication. Despite being active in the post, as he tries to fill a Jakob-sized hole in the lineup, he also drew only 1 personal foul.

The Scottie + Ingram duo is delivering​

Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram are supposed to be this team’s leaders, with Barrett rounding out the top three. Just a glance at the box score from tonight proves that formula can work. Ingram and Scottie played well off each other tonight.

Barnes was tasked with helping fill the Poeltl void and stopping Jaren Jackson Jr. from getting his way. He did just that, holding the Grizzly to 20 points in a game he needed to step up in, with Morant out. Barnes scored 19 of his own points, made 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and 5 blocks.

“He was just making winning plays,” Darko said about Barnes after the game, “he cares so much, he’s growing so much.” Coach emphasized how Barnes just gives the team whatever they need from him on any given night.

While Barnes was taking on a bigger offensive burden, Ingram did his job on the other end. He scored 26 points with 7 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. He was also incredibly efficient, shooting 10-15 (66%) from the field.

i just feel calm when brandon ingram has the ball 1 on 1. he just takes his time, gets to his spot and scores over the top.

— William Lou (@william_lou) November 3, 2025

The Big Three did their Big One tonight to make sure the Raptors came out on top while they had the opportunity to do so.

Can it last?​

That’s to be determined when the Raptors welcome the Bucks back to Toronto on Tuesday, after losing their home opener to them. If they can repeat a more well-rounded offensive and defensive performance? Maybe they can get a win. Yet, the Giannis factor is present.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...s-memphis-grizzlies-win-barnes-barrett-ingram

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Rap-Up: Staying afloat and seizing opportunities

The Regular Season has barely gotten out of bed, and the rash of injuries is already piling up.

Last Friday, the Cavaliers were without Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Max Strus. That’s 80% of Cleveland’s starting lineup! On Sunday, the Grizzlies strolled into town without the injured Zach Edey, Ty Jerome, Brandon Clarke, and Scotty Pippen Jr. Memphis was further depleted after suspending Ja Morant for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team.

The Raptors aren’t in the clear either, as Jakob Poeltl missed the last 3 games with recurring back issues. Considering the number of injuries on their opponents, Toronto is relatively healthy. The team’s depth that was highly touted throughout the preseason came through as Jamison Battle’s perfect night beyond the arc (6-for-6) propelled the Raptors to victory and, subsequently, halted a 4-game slide. Toronto made it 2 wins in a row behind Brandon Ingram’s efficient 26-point outing against Memphis. It was already his 3rd game shooting 62% or better from the field.

With each of the first 10 games against teams that made the playoffs last year or project to make the playoffs this year (hello, San Antonio), the Raptors must take advantage of depleted teams in order to survive a difficult portion of the schedule. Coming up this week are a couple of games against teams dealing with significant injuries. Can Toronto continue capitalizing?

November 4 vs Milwaukee Bucks

Will this be the last time Toronto watches Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Bucks uniform?

I should probably stop making that joke. Not only is Giannis (stubbornly?) loyal to the city, but Milwaukee has been playing really well.

Doc Rivers has his team off to a solid start with victories over New York and Golden State. Milwaukee has the 4th-best offensive rating, thanks in part to 7 different Bucks averaging double-figure scoring. Efficiency is the name of the game in Milwaukee, with the team ranking 1st in FG% at the rim and 2nd in FG% from three.

Milwaukee should be tired as they’re playing the second game of a back-to-back. Or maybe they’ll be energized since last night’s game ended in a dramatic Giannis buzzer-beater.

GIANNIS HITS THE GAME WINNER AT THE BUZZER! pic.twitter.com/Tz0aoHxFXA

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 4, 2025

Fun fact that may only interest me

Antetokounmpo started his career losing 13(!!) of his first 14 games against Toronto. You can certainly see why conspiracies would start whenever Giannis would mysteriously miss a game against the Raptors.

He’s mostly atoned for it, winning 6 of the last 7 meetings in which he’s played.

Moving forward, they could all be wins for Giannis if he just joins Toron……okay I’ll stop now.

Prediction

When these teams met two Fridays ago, the Bucks carved up the Raptors’ defense in the 4th quarter, scoring 36 points and escaping with a 122-116 victory. Antetokounmpo was unstoppable, amassing 31 points, 20(!) rebounds, and 7 assists. Cole Anthony was a monster off the bench. The former Magic dropped 23 points, almost single-handedly outscoring Toronto’s bench (25 points).

If Poeltl misses his 4th game in a row, the Raptors will be hard-pressed to stop Giannis. As of this writing, Jak has been upgraded to questionable. If he can play, he may not be at 100%. Regardless, Toronto may have an answer (see Es’ typical great work below). Raptors avenge the early-season loss and defeat the visiting Bucks, but do not cover the -2.5 spread.

Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles LOCKED UP the Grizzlies tonight.

Why those 2 are the lynchpin for this team defensively + recapping a fun game! pic.twitter.com/XohloaTMl0

— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) November 3, 2025

November 7 @ Atlanta Hawks

The Round Robin portion of the NBA Cup consists of 2 home games and 2 road games. As luck would have it, Toronto will avoid a former All-Star starter in each of its NBA Cup road games. Trae Young sustained a sprained MCL earlier this week and will miss at least 4 weeks. Ice Trae’s absence is another blow to Atlanta’s slow start. The Hawks were touted as a team to watch before the season started, thanks in large part to the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard, as well as the return of Jalen Johnson.

However, things have not gone according to plan in the A. In addition to Trae’s injury, Atlanta’s 3-4 start includes losses to a depleted Cavs roster, the surprising Bulls, and a season-opening drubbing at the hands of these Raptors. It’s still early, but the Hawks have the 5th-worst offense in the league. For context, Atlanta has been better than average for each of the last 5 seasons, including the 2021-22 season, where they finished 2nd. On the defensive end, the departure of Clint Capela is being exposed as opponents are grabbing more offensive rebounds than against any other team.

Fun fact that may only interest me

The Hawks may have the most multicultural team in the NBA. Here’s where each of the players was born:

• Australia: Dyson Daniels
• Belgium: Nikola Djurisic
• Canada: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Caleb Houstan
• Czech Republic: Vit Krejci
• Latvia: Kristaps Porzingis
• Mali: N’Faly Dante
• Senegal: Mouhamed Gueye, Eli Ndiaye
• Spain: Zaccharie Risacher
• USA: Jalen Johnson, Luke Kennard, Asa Newell, Onyeka Okongwu, Jacob Toppin, Trae Young

Asa has the pregame handshakes going crazy pic.twitter.com/Phx2UfoVei

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 2, 2025

Prediction

It goes without saying that this is a big game for both teams. For Toronto, the chance to steal another NBA Cup win against an opponent missing its best player, getting a second win in Atlanta, AND kicking off a 5-game road trip that could turn around a slow start is quite the motivation. Meanwhile, Atlanta will also be looking for its second NBA Cup win while trying to avenge the embarrassing season-opening loss. Toronto handled Atlanta easily a few weeks ago, and the Hawks are now without Trae. The Raptors win in Atlanta again, covering the +1.5 spread.

November 8 @ Philadelphia 76ers

This is the kind of start that should worry Eastern Conference teams. Paul George and Jared McCain have yet to play this season. Joel Embiid is currently in the Bermuda Triangle of NBA despair: unplayable on most nights, less than 100% when he’s on the court, and too expensive to trade.

Yet, Philadelphia sits atop the East standings!

Tyrese Maxey has been the best player in the league not born in Greece or Canada. Mad Maxey averaged a career-high 26.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds last season. He’s managed to increase those figures to 33.7 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds! The Sixers may be without McCain, last year’s best rookie before getting injured, but his absence has not been felt because Philadelphia also has this year’s best rookie, so far, in VJ Edgecombe. The 3rd overall pick ranks 1st among all rookies in points, assists, and steals. Filling out the Sixers’ Big 3 (ugh, sorry for using that term) is none other than…..Kelly Oubre!?!?! The 10-year veteran is having a renaissance season so far. He’s averaging a career-high 63.5% eFG%, draining 62% inside the arc and 42% from three. This 3-headed monster collectively makes 9.5 threes per game on 43% shooting. Nick Nurse is fueling all of this by playing each of them A LOT. Maxey (42.5), Edgecombe (39.0), and Oubre (38.0) are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the NBA in minutes played.

Not to be outdone, the Sixers’ frontcourt is holding its own despite Embiid’s shortcomings. Andre Drummond leads the league in rebounds per 100 possessions. Adem Bona ranks 4th in blocks per game.

I truly hate that their tanking strategy paid off!

Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe pic.twitter.com/BgnrnW78hr

— Matt (@sixringsofsteeI) October 28, 2025

Fun fact that may only interest me

In each of the last 9 seasons, the league leader in minutes per game has averaged between 36.9 (LeBron James, 2017-18) and 37.9 (Pascal Siakam, 2021-22).

So far this season, each of the top 3 in minutes played is averaging 38 or more.

1. Tyrese Maxey (42.5)
2. VJ Edgecombe (39.0)
3. Kelly Oubre (38.0)

Prediction

The Sixers will have 2 days of rest before heading home and awaiting Toronto. The Raptors will be flying in late from Atlanta and playing the back-end of a back-to-back. Maxey, Edgecombe, Oubre, and Quentin Grimes are going to be a handful for Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Jamal Shead. You already know Nick Nurse will have a little extra motivation to beat his former team. The Sixers continue their hot start to the season, defeating the Raptors and covering the -7.5 spread.

Last week: 3-1

Season record: 5-2

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...raptors-games-november-3-9-bucks-hawks-sixers

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Day in the life of a basketball city: Tempo introduce Brondello and Raptors win

It was quite the day in Toronto Basketball. It started at 11 am, when the Toronto Tempo held a press conference to welcome their first franchise head coach, Sandy Brondello, to the team. It ended a few blocks away at Scotiabank Arena, where the Toronto Raptors played the Milwaukee Bucks. Sandy Brondello was also there, by the way.

If you live in Toronto, you know it’s a basketball city, and everything about this very fun, very long day proved that. The Raptors have had 30 years now to establish themselves in the NBA, and there is a general respect from most in the league about the place Toronto holds in the NBA history books. Obviously, the championship run is a big part of that, but this is a city opposing players love to come to, and where past and present Toronto Raptors have fond memories of.

The Tempo are already building that kind of reputation, which has been further solidified by the hiring of Sandy Brondello. A two-time WNBA champion coach, former player, Olympic player and coach, Brondello is one of the best coaches the WNBA has ever seen. She’s coached two other WNBA franchises, winning a title with both of them. She’s coached WNBA greats like Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart. The fact that a franchise that has not even played a game or signed a single player being able to get a coach of that calibre is impressive to begin with.

Brondello also had her pick of jobs and was offered head coaching jobs on “a few” different teams, in her own words. The two likely spots she was referring to are Seattle and Dallas, both with head coaching jobs available. In the end, she chose Toronto, explaining to the media earlier that it was the mix of a new challenge for her and the connection she formed with the front office that made it clear this was the spot she wanted to choose.

A hire like this just adds “aura” to the Tempo, as the kids would say.

Before the Raptors game, Darko Rajakovic said that he crossed paths with Brondello while she was the coach of the Phoenix Mercury and he was an assistant with the Suns. He praised her coaching ability and also said she’s a great person, mentioning that they’re getting dinner tomorrow to catch up.

Darko says he crossed paths with Sandy Brondello in Phoenix, has high praise for the Tempo’s new coach. Says they are getting dinner tomorrow as well. pic.twitter.com/DkkQrCk4rN

— chelsea leite (@chelsealeite) November 4, 2025

In a way, the Raptors represent what the future will look like for the Tempo. Dedicated fan base, great NBA city, championship-calibre franchise.

What was a historic day for the Tempo was just another game day for the Raptors, and soon that will be the reality for the WNBA franchise as well.

After spending the first half of the day on the women’s side of the sport, it was time to speed walk down Front Street to Scotiabank Arena for the Raptors to play against the Bucks. The Bucks were on the second night of a back-to-back, and you could tell. The only two players in double figures at halftime for Milwaukee were Giannis and Myles Turner.

Just a perfect Scottie Barnes game on both ends.

23-3-6 + 6 stocks and three threes in 27 minutes.

If he keeps playing like he has to start the year, forget All-Star, he's on an All-NBA pace.

— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) November 5, 2025

The Raptors took advantage of that. RJ Barrett co-led all scorers again with 23 points, getting 8 rebounds, 4 assists and shooting 6-12 from the field. Scottie Barnes had 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, playing extremely well defensively and helping to hold Giannis to just 22 points in the game. Brandon Ingram had a quieter game with 13 points, but made 8 rebounds and 4 assists — and the fact that the Raptors were up 20 in the second half made it so that he didn’t need to score any more.

The bench also contributed, with Mamukelashvili scoring 15 points and Gradey Dick with 14 points of his own. Even Immanuel Quickley, who has been struggling to score as of late, was able to score 15 points on 5-15 shooting from the field.

best performance of the season so far by the raptors through 3 quarters. bucks cut into the lead a bit but raptors have pushed it up to 25 through gorgeous ball movement.

nice to see gradey, IQ and Jakobe all bounce back and contribute.

— William Lou (@william_lou) November 5, 2025

It was a good win for the Toronto Raptors, ending at 128-100, a team who lost to this Bucks team a week and a half ago at their home opener. The win also brings them to an even record on the season, 4-4, as they head out on the road for the next few games.

The next time the WNBA plays in the regular season, Sandy Brondello’s Toronto Tempo squad (whoever they may be) will be playing. These normal Tuesday night games for the Raptors will soon be normal for the Tempo, something it feels like the city has been waiting for forever. With the Raptors on the rise this year, hopefully in a position to make the playoffs this season, the Tempo won’t be far behind in their quest for a postseason run and eventually a championship.

Even the most mundane of Tuesdays is a day full of basketball when you live in Toronto.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/toronto-w...-tempo-brondello-bucks-giannis-barnes-barrett

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Opinion: Booing has a rightful place in sports

The thoughts of most Torontonians could not be further removed from the NBA right now. The 6ix is now, for the first time in nearly a decade, a bona fide baseball city. World Series Mania has consumed Canadians, and with good reason. The Blue Jays really are Canada’s team, just like the Raptors, and when a national representative goes up against an American juggernaut, some interesting sentiments are revealed.

Let’s take it back to early 2025, when the imposition of American tariffs resulted in a wave of booing across Canadian basketball and hockey teams when American teams came to town. When asked about the fan behaviour, Canadian player, then Raptor, now Boston Celtic Chris Boucher delivered the rhetorical question, “have you ever seen us getting taxed like that?” The NHL’s 4 Nations Face Off saw much the same in the stands, coupled with a number of hockey fights in the Canada-US matchup. This was reminiscent of the Canadians booing American teams after the Iraq War was started in the early 2000s. In short, it was clear that North America was experiencing some meaningful division across the 49th Parallel.

In the ensuing months, the animosity largely died down. Crowds at Scotiabank Arena have gone back to cheering for the singers of the Star Spangled Banner, but the return to normalcy hasn’t necessarily happened on both sides of the border. During the American League Division Series, the roles were reversed, and the Bronx faithful started booing the Canadian national anthem at the beginning of Game 3. This did not happen back in Toronto, however, and even during the World Series, where tensions are at their highest, there was no anthem booing by Canadian fans.

What irks me the about New Yorkers booing the specifically the anthem (not even heckling the Blue Jays, to be clear!) is that the original sentiment of the booing was meant to reflect the pain of Canadians being threatened with economic attacks and annexation by the United States. While sports are always in some way political, Canadian booing was an overt expression of frustration and anxiety about international trade and sovereignty, rather than a means of attacking a nation’s culture over your baseball team being down 2-0 in a series. Rivalries are a big part of what keeps sports interesting, but the oppressor mimicking the oppressed over a baseball matchup is in poor taste. In ideal circumstances, there would not be any booing of anthems at all! That energy would be better focused on cheering for your team and putting down opponents, but rather, because of extraneous political factors, sports fans are dragged into an economic disaster, and react to the discomfort by standing up for themselves, pretty much the only way you can in an arena.

I am all for the adoption of aggressive, European-style fan behaviour. What Victor Wembanyama is spearheading in San Antonio with a football-style supporter section is exactly what the league needs more of. The creation of The Wall in Los Angeles, with this hyper-focused group of fans meant to psych out whoever is on the road against the Clippers, is a great idea as well. This force being focused on an opposing team is a fantastic thing, and is something I hope will bring even more excitement into the NBA, especially as a spectator in the stands. In an ideal world, mutual respect from one country to another would be reflected in the conduct of a team’s supporters, but we do not live in an ideal world. In modern society, political vitriol spills into the world of athletics and, in a multinational league, causes regrettable divisions between countries that have been allied for as long as they have.

Every time I go to a Raptors game, I must admit, I am a little disheartened when I see everyone rise and cheer for the singer of the American national anthem. The matters of trade and economic bullying that sparked the initial wave of protests are nowhere near resolved. The President is still throwing his country’s economic weight around, with no sign of an end to this behaviour and no regard for how it will affect lives on both sides of the border. While it may not be happening in the NBA, American sports fans are booing the Canadian anthem, while we play to our stereotypes and remain polite in the face of disrespect. I want Raptors fans to think about what they are standing for the next time they attend an NBA game in person, and remember that while you may be part of a crowd in a stadium, you don’t need to show support for something harming you.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/general/4...jays-yankees-intuit-dome-the-wall-fan-section

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Raptors HQ Staff gives raw opinions on Toronto Raptors City Edition Jerseys

It’s that time of year: NBA City Edition jerseys. You either love or hate your team’s edition of the jerseys every year, which is fair given that teams take some… artistic liberties on the designs.

The Toronto Raptors have been through a few iterations of their city threads. For a long stretch there, the team leaned VERY far into the “OVO” black and gold look, until they had literally wrung that colour scheme dry. Last year, the Raptors arguably had the best city edition jerseys in the league, with a black-and-purple design featuring the Vince Carter Raptor, and they came with a BEAUTIFUL city edition court.

Pour one out for the Vince Raptor purple and honey oak court, we miss you angel </3

I just miss this court, okay pic.twitter.com/4JzUb7v8Xc

— chelsea leite (@chelsealeite) October 24, 2025

It’s time for another year of city edition jerseys, and the Raptors have decided to retreat from purple… again. For some reason. That I will never understand.

This year’s Raptors City jerseys are similar in design to last year’s, with a few updates. First, the Raptor is back to his original stance, instead of the Carter Dunk pose he took up last season. The Raptor is also wearing a red and white jersey this year, with the number 19 — not to celebrate Jakob Poeltl, but to remember the 2019 championship season. The jersey he is wearing is specifically the Raptors jersey from the championship season.

The black pinstripe background is the same as in previous editions, and they have brought back the word “Toronto” in the design, rather than the simpler look from last season. The details are in silver, with silver borders and the player names on the back in silver.

First official look at the Scottie Barnes Toronto Raptors City Edition NBA Swingman Jersey pic.twitter.com/bztiaX4m2S

— Stashed Drop Updates (@ImagesByStashed) November 4, 2025

The Raptors HQ staff has… some opinions on the threads. Let’s get into them!

Chelsea: 7/10

I don’t hate them, but it’s hard to compete with last year’s edition. The fans constantly scream about how much they love the purple elements from the early days of the franchise, and we keep going back to red and white… why? Plus, to tease us throughout the 30th anniversary celebrations by bringing back purple just to take it away again? MEAN.

Taking away that element of it, they are pretty cool. I like that we have kept the Raptor on the front over the past few seasons, and I like that we have retreated from the OVO colours. It does kinda look like when you use that feature on a 2010’s digital camera, where only one colour comes through and the rest is desaturated. Maybe if the borders on the neck and sleeves were red as well, it would be less like that. I also really like the nod to the championship jersey, even if it feels like a nod to Poeltl??

These also feel like they will look WAY better in person.

Jay: 6.5/10

It’s like the glow in the dark design… without the cool glow in the dark feature. It’s like the Canadian flag… without enough red or white. It’s like past city edition jerseys… without a wow factor.

(Editor’s note that Jay was unimpressed, if you couldn’t tell)

Kristian: 7/10

The jersey isn’t amazing, but it’s still cool. I actually would prefer they come back with the 2019 North Earned jersey that the Raptor is wearing in this edition. Can someone help me find that jersey? I regret not purchasing one during the championship run…

Anyway, when we make the playoffs, we will have deserved a better alternate jersey.

Note: if you have a 2019 North Earned Raptors jersey you wanna sell to Kristian, reach out.

Joe: 8.5/10

It’s a fun way to blend the ’90s look with honouring the championship! The black and white is slightly dull, but overall, I am happy with it.

Don’t, however, let this distract you from the fact that the team needs to abandon the chevron on their regular jerseys immediately.

Julian: 8/10

I like the homage to the championship run, but design-wise, it looks pretty washed out because of the white dino. The font is great, though.

Rebecca: 5/10

I feel like they are gatekeeping what the fans actually want as well. I like the Raptor on the front, but the whole jersey within a jersey thing isn’t my favourite, and it feels really desaturated. There’s been some really good ones around the league, and I hope that maybe it’s our turn soon.

(Editor’s note: I think our time was last year, tbh)

What do you think about the Toronto Raptors City Edition jerseys this season? Let us know your thoughts below!

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/general/4...nions-on-toronto-raptors-city-edition-jerseys

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Toronto Raptors are contenders in the NBA Cup for the first time

We’ve had the NBA Cup now for a few seasons, and it’s not a secret that drumming up excitement for it has been… difficult. Now, public NBA Cup truther and SB Nation NBA manager Harrison Faigen has been preaching about the NBA Cup since the LA Lakers won the first edition, and I never understood why… UNTIL NOW.

The Toronto Raptors are contenders in their pool for the first time, and this could be… FUN?

Since the inception of the NBA Cup, the league’s in-season tournament, which really doesn’t mean anything apart from making some extra money if you’re a player, the Raptors haven’t been good. It’s been tank city over here. Tanking so hard that even the idea of winning an NBA Cup was too much winning. Now? Now things are different.

Toronto is in Pool EAST A with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, and Atlanta Hawks. Their first game was against the Cavaliers, which they shockingly won, 112-101. Don’t remember? Fair, because it was during Game 6 of the World Series and you were likely watching the Blue Jays.

Thanks to Jamison Battle, the Raptors are 1-0 in NBA Cup play. They play the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, and the winner will be 2-0 with a large point differential on top of that. Plus, neither team has played Washington (the forever tankers), and with that most likely being a win for both Atlanta and Toronto, the winner of tonight’s bout is likely to have an advantage.

HUGE Cup Game in ATL tonight. Hollinger explains pic.twitter.com/XyLJyX2zFd

— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) November 7, 2025

Both Cleveland and Indiana are 0-1 in cup games, and Washington hasn’t played one, so if Toronto wins tonight, they will top the group at 2-0.

Now, let’s remember the last time the Raptors played the Atlanta Hawks. It was the first game of the season, when they trounced them 138-118, and Raptors fans thought we were seeing the shiny pearl gates of heaven. The Hawks virtually played no defence, and the Raptors have only improved since. Per Keerthika Uthayakumar, the Raptors have improved by holding teams to 101.7 points in their last three games, compared to the 127.8 points per game they allowed in their first five games:

Raptors are holding teams to 101.7 points in their last 3 games after allowing teams to score 127.8 points over their first five games of the season.

They've won three straight by an average of 17.3 points.

— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) November 5, 2025

Safe to say signs are pointing to the Raptors having the advantage to get ahead in the NBA Cup this year. Hopefully, the magic from the season opener can be repeated in Atlanta tonight.

So, what happens if the Raptors win their NBA Cup group?

Well, these days, the NBA only schedules each team 80 games per season to start with. Those final two games are determined by the results of the NBA Cup. In years past, when the Raptors were eliminated from Cup contention, they simply scheduled two games in that open week against two other losing teams.

If Toronto wins its group or does well enough to be one of the best second-place teams, they make it to the quarterfinals. The Cup quarters and semis will still count toward their regular-season record if they play both. If they lose the QF, they just make up a regular-season game with another losing team. The only game that won’t count toward the regular season would be if they made it to the Cup Final game. That’s a bonus one. None of the stats or scores will affect the Raptors’ season. They could win some cash, the trophy, a banner, and give me some bragging rights to Harrison (who cares about it more than anyone I’ve ever known).

Cup games are on Fridays and Wednesdays this year. After Atlanta on Friday night, the Raptors will still have to play Indiana and Washington to determine their fate in the tournament.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-g...tlanta-hawks-cavaliers-pacers-wizards-preview

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Brandon Ingram fined by NBA for slamming water bottle

The Toronto Raptors played back-to-back road games in Atlanta and Philadelphia over the weekend, winning a crucial NBA Cup game on Friday and losing to the 76ers on Saturday. Yet, one of the biggest narratives to come from the weekend was an incident involving Brandon Ingram. Now, the NBA has announced Ingram will be fined $25,000 for his actions.

After being issued the team’s second delay-of-game warning in Philadelphia on Saturday night, Ingram was caught on camera slamming a water bottle on the ground on the bench. It bounced off the court, coming up to hit a towel boy and spraying whatever was in the bottle all over that staff member, Scottie Barnes (who had been sitting in front of Ingram on the floor stretching), and making a mess. The video then continues to show members of the bench and staff cleaning up the mess while Ingram sits there watching.

Brandon Ingram threw his drink after the Raptors got a delay-of-game call and it exploded all over Scottie pic.twitter.com/usHPQxrFEi

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 9, 2025

Obviously, a moment of frustration for Ingram, who looked like he got shaken up in the previous play and needed a second to walk off a sore leg, leading to the penalty for delaying the game. Still, not the right way to react, and then seemingly show no remorse after hitting someone with the bottle and not helping to clean up. It’s been the talk of the weekend and Monday, with people giving their opinions on the incident.

The NBA has also weighed in, issuing Ingram a $25,000 fine for the incident:

Brandon Ingram has been fined $25K for the water bottle incident. pic.twitter.com/e9QYii6cEw

— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) November 10, 2025

The Toronto Raptors have yet to put out any sort of reaction or statement about the incident, but maybe the public announcement of the fine will cause them to. The team is in Brooklyn at the moment and will play the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday at 7:30 pm. You have to assume Darko Rajakovic will be asked about it in availability before then.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-news/48470/brandon-ingram-fined-water-bottle-toronto-raptors

 

[Toronto Raptors]

WNBA Mock Draft Round Up: Who is in Tempo range?

Last week, the WNBA announced it will be holding the WNBA Draft Lottery on November 23rd. This will determine the order of the first five picks of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Teams picking are the Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx (who own Chicago’s pick), Seattle Storm (who own the LA Sparks’ pick), Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky (who own the Connecticut Sun’s pick). That is also the order of who has the best odds to win the No. 1 overall pick, with Dallas having the best odds for the second year in a row.

For Toronto fans wondering how the Toronto Tempo fit into this, they will pick directly after the lottery, per expansion rules. With five lottery teams this year, the two expansion teams (Toronto and Portland) will have the first two picks after the lottery, six and seven. Since Toronto was announced as the first expansion franchise, they will likely get No. 6, and Portland will get No. 7. Then, the rest of the draft will be ordered as normal. After announcing the hiring of Sandy Brondello as their head coach last week, the Tempo can finally shift their attention to building out their roster.

Now, as the NCAA college season starts, mock WNBA drafts are starting to pop up. As the season continues, we will get a clearer picture of who could be available at No. 6 for the Toronto Tempo to select. Let’s round up who some of the big mocks have at the No. 6 spot:

• ESPN: Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)
• Tankathon: Awa Fam (Valencia)
• Bleacher Report: Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)
• CBS: Awa Fam (Valencia)

Awa Fam – Valencia​

Awa Fam is an international basketball prospect who will be 19 at the time of the draft and from Spain. She plays in the Euroleague for Valencia, and was their youngest ever player when she signed on at 15 years old. Per international rules, she will be eligible to declare for the 2026 WNBA Draft and immediately come play in the league.

She is a 6-foot-4 centre, and like most basketball players coming from Europe, is extremely versatile in the way she uses her athleticism, handle, and vision to be more dynamic than the average post player. She can shoot from distance as well, and went 2-2 from three in a recent Valencia game versus Fenerbahce where she also shot 7-11 from the field. To be honest, she likely won’t hang around as low as No. 6 for very long, as mock draft makers and scouts start to realize how good she really is for her age. She has the potential to boost in stock and even threatens to overtake Lauren Betts for the consensus No. 1 prospect in this draft.

If Toronto can get Fam on their inaugural team, it would be a long-term move in securing a core player for them for the next 4+ years. With an international prospect like Fam, who will be just 19 years old when she enters the league, the development process can take a little bit longer, but Fam is already a little ahead, having professional experience overseas.

Ta’Niya Latson – South Carolina​

Another name frequently at the No. 6 spot is Ta’Niya Latson, who just transferred from Florida State (Scottie Barnes’s alma mater) to South Carolina (Collin Murray-Boyles’s alma mater) for her final year of NCAA eligibility. Latson is an extremely talented offensive threat and was the best scorer in the country last year.

During her 2024-25 season with the Seminoles, Latson averaged 25.2 points per game and had some big moments in ACC play. She shot 45.1% from the field and 34.3% from three that season as well. Yet, knowing her potential and knowing she had one last year in the NCAA to boost her draft stock, she decided to transfer out of Florida State. She picked South Carolina, the current No. 2-ranked program in the country, to spend her last year, knowing how Dawn Staley produces top WNBA prospects.

Latson spent her summer levelling up with the Gamecocks’ training staff as well, increasing her jumping height, sprinting speed, and strength. In the Gamecocks’ 114-47 win over Bowling Green last week, Latson scored 17 points, a nice follow-up to her opening game performance of 20 points on 70% shooting from the field.

No matter who Toronto picks up in the expansion draft and free agency, drafting Latson could give them some solid depth at the shooting guard position. She knows how to find ways to score no matter her opponent, and she always found ways to lead her team to victory when she was playing at Florida State. Now on a more balanced South Carolina team, she is still finding her spots and getting points on the board.

As the college season progresses, these mock drafts have the potential to change — yet right now, these are two solid prospects for the Toronto Tempo.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/wnba-cont...-tempo-prospects-ncaa-valencia-south-carolina

 

[Toronto Raptors]

The Rap-Up: Closing out the road trip in style

When you eat an Oreo cookie, which part do you prefer? Are you like my wife and eat the cookies or do you want all the sugary goodness in the middle like me?

Whatever your choice (you’re hungry now), I may have to change mine. Temporarily.

The week ahead for the Raptors sees a pair of “cookie” matchups — the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers have combined to lose 18 of their first 20 games — sandwiched around a not-so-sweet matchup in Cleveland.

If Toronto falls to either of Nets or Pacers, feel free to blame me for jinxing the team. Also, if the Raptors beat the Cavs, I will also take credit for reverse-jinxing the team! Wait, did I just undo the reverse-jinxing by calling it out? My brain hurts. Somebody give me some Oreos.

For the city that made us.
: https://t.co/jWzAqslTUn pic.twitter.com/fQM42esqhU

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 10, 2025

November 11 @ Brooklyn Nets

Quick, name 5 Brooklyn Nets! Michael Porter Jr…….Nic Claxton…………..Cam Thomas……………………….does Jordi Fernandez count?

The Nets are tanking. Again. Last season, Brooklyn, like Toronto, tanked its way into the lottery and, again like their Atlantic Division rivals, were leapfrogged by a pair of Texas teams. The Raptors are clearly happy with who they drafted, as Collin Murray-Boyles has already established himself as a rotation player, is closing games, and looks like a future All-Defense mainstay.

For Brooklyn, Egor Demin is going through the motions of a rookie season. His turnover rate (19.3%) is one of the worst among Point Guards. Despite being taller than most at his position (6’8), Demin’s shot chart shows someone afraid of getting in the paint. Demin is in the 6th percentile in drawing shooting fouls, and 78%(!!) of his shots are from three. Fernandez inserted the rookie into the starting lineup over the last two games. With Cam Thomas out for the next 3-4 weeks, Demin will get some extra playing time to develop.

Porter Jr. deserves some credit with how he’s started his Nets career. After being traded from a championship contender in Denver to lottery-bound team in Brooklyn, no one would be surprised if Porter Jr. played hero-ball and drove up his counting stats. While he is shooting and scoring more than ever before (4.5 more FGA and 5.1 more points than last season), MPJs splits are still decent, 47/37/79. His assists have also ticked up to a career-high (yes, it’s only 2.6 assists but you try remember him ever passing as a Nugget).

The Nets and Nuggets might've both gotten what they needed out of the Michael Porter Jr.–Cam Johnson trade.

Brooklyn handed MPJ the keys, and he's running with it.

Three 30-point games already, showing the kind of scoring flashes everyone's been waiting for. He looks confident,… pic.twitter.com/Tnf6TqdAm7

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 10, 2025

Fun fact that may only interest me

Brooklyn is one of the 12 stops along Garrett Temple’s career. He is at least 10 years older than any other player on the Nets roster. (To be fair, he’s also 10 years older than every Raptor other than Jakob Poeltl) Temple has 15 years of experience and has played in 771 games.

Tyrese Martin spent the 2023-24 season entirely in the G League. This past November, he set a Nets franchise record for most points by a two-way player, as he lit up Phoenix for 30 points. In February, Martin’s two-way contract was converted to a standard contract.

Martin is the 3rd-oldest player on the Nets roster.

Prediction

The Raptors continue its 5-game road trip with a one-day rest advantage over the Nets. Brooklyn is winless at home with their only victory occurring last week in Indiana — where Toronto will play to wrap up this week’s games.

In addition to Thomas’ absence, Brooklyn will also be without Haywood Highsmith, who has yet to play this season. Day’ron Sharpe is questionable with a hamstring injury.

There really isn’t much to overthink about this matchup. Brooklyn has the worst defense in the league, giving up 125.5 points per game. The Nets rank 29th in shots allowed at the rim, 30th in corner threes allowed, and 30th in opponents’ 3-point FG%. Toronto should win this game but I’ll be cautious and predict Brooklyn covers the +10.5 spread.

November 13 @ Cleveland Cavaliers

When Toronto went into Cleveland two weeks ago and upset the Cavaliers, it was a rare scenario where neither city seemed to care. In Toronto, all eyes were glued to the Blue Jays, who were playing a possible World Series-clinching Game 6 (ahh damn, I’m crying again). Cleveland played the game without Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Max Strus. This was probably the lowest-leverage game to ever kick off the NBA Cup schedule!

The fact that Toronto won the game was positive for multiple reasons. The Raptors halted a 4-game losing skid which certainly conjured up memories of the last season’s tankathon. Grabbing the first win (and subsequent win in Atlanta last week) put Toronto in the driver’s seat in NBA Cup Round Robin play. The Cavaliers are legitimate contenders to make the NBA Finals, so taking advantage while they are severely short-handed could be the only way to defeat them this season.

Donovan Mitchell is off to a hot start this season. He’s averaging more points (30.4), three-pointers (4.2), field goals (10.4), and PER (25.6) than ever before. After missing the one game against Toronto, Mitchell’s return to the lineup in the subsequent game kickstarted a four-game win streak for the Cavs. A streak that came to a thrilling end on Monday night.

THE ENDING OF THE HEAT VS. CAVS GAME WAS ABSOLUTE CINEMA



(VIA @NBA)

pic.twitter.com/pu625AXtqE

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 11, 2025

Fun fact that may only interest me

Dean Wade: born in Wichita, Kansas on November 20th. Played all his high school and college basketball in the state of Kansas. Received high basketball honour (Mr. Kansas Basketball). Has only played for one team over his 7 NBA seasons.

Gradey Dick: born in Wichita, Kansas on November 20th. Played all his high school and college basketball in the state of Kansas. Received high basketball honour (Gatorade National Player of the Year). Has only played for one team over his 3 NBA seasons.

Prediction

The Raptors catch the Cavaliers on the back-end of a road-home back-to-back. It’s also the third game in four nights for Cleveland, after playing a double-header in Miami. During Monday’s loss to Miami, Garland may have reaggravated the toe injury that required surgery in the offseason and also kept him out for the first six games of the season.

Cleveland, however, will be looking to avenge the earlier loss to Toronto. Mitchell has had his way with the Raptors since OG Anunoby left the team. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley should be difficult to handle, more than usual, with Poeltl’s back issues and Sandro Mamukelashvili dealing with a neck injury.

Statistically, the Raptors actually matchup quite well to the Cavaliers. Toronto ranks higher in halfcourt offense and on both ends in transition. Immanuel Quickley’s improved play of late should negate the need for another hero performance from Jamison Battle. Cleveland wins the rematch but Toronto covers the +6.5 spread.

November 15 @ Indiana Pacers

Quick, name the 5 starters in Indiana’s most recent game? I……won’t even try. Instead, here’s a list of who was injured:

• Pascal Siakam (Rest; 10th in minutes per game. Trust me, he needed the rest)
• TJ McConnell (Hamstring; could return this week)
• Johnny Furphy (Ankle; will miss at least one more week)
• Benedict Mathurin (Foot; week-to-week)
• Obi Toppin (Foot; out at least 3 months)
• Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles; crying emoji)

The Pacers have matched the worst start in franchise history. The unfortunate injury luck has led to 7 different starting lineups over the first 10 Indiana games — 9 of which were losses. It’s hard to say if the worst loss was to Brooklyn (the Nets’ only win of the season) or on Sunday in Golden State (with 9 players listed injured in a 34-point rout)….or if rock bottom still hasn’t been reached.

Indiana was literally one win away from the most improbable championship. Since winning Game 6 on June 19th, the Pacers have won one game. Hey, at least they look good!

Introducing our 2025-26 City Edition uniforms https://t.co/c1uqbV7klB pic.twitter.com/TeTh54gCuR

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 11, 2025

Fun fact that may only interest me

Indiana has lowest eFG% in the NBA by a wide margin. The Pacers’ percentage (46%) is 3.6% percentage points worse than the 29th-ranked Utah Jazz (49.6%). That 3.6% margin is just as wide as the 1st-ranked Milwaukee Bucks (59.2%) and the 12th-ranked Phoenix Suns (55.6%).

The Pacers have 6 players averaging at least 50% shooting from the field. Three of those players are injured (Mathurin, Furphy, and Quenton Jackson), James Wiseman has only played one game, and Tony Bradley plays 13 minutes a game. Things are looking dire in Indiana.

Prediction

Surprise, surprise. The Indiana Pacers have the worst offense in the league! The Raptors’ defense should be delighted to finish off the five-game road trip against a short-handed team that doesn’t shoot well from any area of the floor (30th at the rim, 29th from three, and 28th from mid-range). Siakam matching up with Barnes should be fun to watch. Toronto wins and covers the -8.5 spread.

Last week: 2-1

Season record: 7-3

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-a...rs-games-november-10-16-nets-cavaliers-pacers

 

[Toronto Raptors]

How do 2K26’s new ratings stack up to 2K16’s Legacy?

The first round of OVR ranking updates in NBA2K have finally been released, and with it, some necessary adjustments have occurred. Earlier in the year when the rankings were released, we took the opportunity to look at the Raptors ratings, the ones that were way too high and the ones that were way too low. Now, we can look at what’s been fixed and what hasn’t…

Big Ups…​

Starting with the Raptors, there was a little shuffle with most of the roster. This is on par with most teams, as the individual scores only changing a point or two is usual for the first update of the year:

• Scottie Barnes – 86 OVR (+1)
• Brandon Ingram – 85 OVR (+1)
• Immanuel Quickley – 79 OVR (-2)
• Jakob Poeltl – 79 OVR (-1)
• Collin Murray-Boyles – 77 OVR (+5)
• Gradey Dick – 76 OVR (-2)
• Jamal Shead – 74 OVR (+1)
• Jamison Battle – 74 OVR (+3)
• Ja’Kobe Walter – 73 OVR (-1)

Both Scottie and BI saw a jump, a nod to the nice start to the season both guys have had. With Scottie averaging almost 20-7-5 per game and BI close behind him with 21-6-4, their defence and play has been really solid for the Raps. These are definitely trending in the right direction and it’s nice to see them getting a more respectable rating.

CMB had the largest jump of the team, although this shouldn’t surprise anyone as rookies usually are underrated coming into the league, especially when they’re not high picks. The +5 is the largest for the Raptors and one of the most significant in the update as well, but with the strong start he’s had, especially on the defensive end, this makes sense. Now he sits 8th among rookies, a solid show of respect as he averages almost 9-4-1 so far.

… and Big Downs​

Poeltl and Walter both went down one, although they’ve had rough starts to the season. Poeltl’s back had him looking off and missing time, and Walter has struggled to crack the rotation. To be honest, I’m surprised it didn’t drop even more.

The biggest fallers for Toronto were Quickley and Gradey though, both dropping 2 OVR. Quickley has come under a bit of scrutiny, averaging only 14 points on some hot and cold shooting. He’s done a good job facilitating though, averaging 6 assists per game. This new OVR places him below the top 100 players (which I don’t agree with), and alongside guys like Herb Jones, Aaron Wiggins, and Bilal Coulibaly (which feels kind of disrespectful).

In the next update, I would suspect we’ll see a recovery for Poeltl and Quickley, and another jump from Ingram, but likely not as much movement as this one.

Most of the biggest risers around the league were the rookies. Since they’re coming in untested, it makes sense to see plenty of fluctuation now that we’ve seen how they measure up against NBA-calibre talent.

The Rookies and the Vets​

VJ Edgecomb, the current frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, saw a very deserved jump. Up 5 to an OVR of 81. He has had some phenomenal performances already and is averaging 17-6-5 and leading rookies in many statistical categories.

Cooper Flagg was one of the rookies whose OVR dropped, now at 80 (-2). After the abysmal start to the season Dallas has had, he’s averaging only about 14-7-3. He hasn’t had much help at either end of the floor, and when compared to other players around the league, 80 still feels like it’s inflated due to expectations and might still see some fallout by the next update. He’s in a tricky spot in Dallas but has underwhelmed and his OVR is reflecting that.

Cedric Coward saw the biggest improvement, now at an 80 (+8) after an excellent start for the Grizzlies. Averaging 15-6-3 on 55% shooting, he’s already had a double-double, and set a career high of 27 points against Indiana. Definitely a well-deserved jump for the rookie.

Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sion James, and Will Richard all saw significant jumps as well, given the strong start to the rookie campaigns they’ve had. Ace Bailey was the most significant faller, dropping to 73 (-4), a somewhat harsh drop although expectations were high and he’s underwhelmed.

For older players, Cam Spencer – 74 (+6) , Keyonte George – 82 (+4), Jake LaRavia – 78 (+4), Reed Sheppard – 76 (+4), Ajay Mitchell – 79 (+6), and Josh Okogie – 75 (+5) were some of the biggest risers, all nods to the improvement we’ve seen so far.

Tyrese Maxey saw a jump to an OVR of 89 (+3) who was my #1 for guys who were underrated to start this season. I wouldn’t be shocked if both see more upward movement before long, especially with the games he’s been having already and the load he needs to carry for Philly. The other two “players who were rated too low” were Jalen Johnson who saw a +4 to his OVR and Aaron Gordon who saw a +1. Both well deserved. Lauri Markkanen – 87 (+3) also saw a well-deserved increase.

There weren’t as many drops as expected, especially for players who were ranked (in my opinion) too high to start the season.

Julius Randle saw another jump to 88 (+2) but has had an excellent start, averaging 26-7-6. Amen Thompson remains at 87 (still too high in my opinion), and Kawhi, who has managed to play six games already this season, stays at 92.

There were still some fallers though, with Joel dropping to 90 (-2) after his slow start, mirrored by Myles Turner at 81 (-2) who is adjusting to playing with the Bucks.

Boston had a pair of fallers in Anfernee Simons and Derrick White, both dropping 3 to 78 and 84, respectively. In reality, that’s probably closer to where they should be, but the added “we won the championship two years ago” OVR inflation is starting to wear off.

The Knicks saw KAT fall to 90 (-2), Josh Hart fall to 78 (-3) and Jordan Clarkson fall to 76 (-2) with their disappointing start to the season as well.

Now, a month into the season, guys are starting to get their legs, gel with new teams, and carve out their role. It will be interesting to see if the risers are able to maintain these new marks and if the fallers are able to get some redemption as we head into December.

10 Years of Change​

A little more than 10 years removed from what is frequently held as the best 2K game of all time, considerable changes have been made to the franchise, and the way they choose to rate their players. 2K16 was marked for the Raptors by the inclusion of the ‘99-’00 team with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady as part of the lineup of classic teams offered for play, as well as the 2015-16 Raptors team led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

The star guard and wing were tied for first place in the Raptors ratings at 83 a piece, a significant jump from the team’s third highest rated player, DeMarre Carroll at a 79. The rest of the top 5 was rounded out by Jonas Valanciunas at a 78 and Luis Scola and James Johnson both at 75, a relatively stark drop-off. With Lowry and DeRozan as the two lone All-Stars in the season, and JV pulling in a near double double, those ratings made sense, but considering DeMarre Carroll’s injury-riddled season, and star of our old column “James Johnson Watch”, James Johnson, snagging only 5 points per game, it’s a bit of a rough look for the virtual Raptors of ten years ago.

Barnes and Ingram, sitting at 86 and 85 overall as the two highest rated players in 2K26, eclipse the budding versions of Lowry and DeRozan digitized in 2K16. Now, is this a fair assessment? Statistically, Scottie makes sense at an 86, with a well-rounded game that’s perhaps just short of the All-Star level game that’s found at 90 overall and above in 2K26, and sits as the 48th highest rated player in the game. But, in 16, you’ve got DeRozan and Lowry sitting at 33rd and 37th respectively. Worse ratings, but higher relative rank. So… what gives?

Overall increase in ratings in the 2K games has been a consistent factor throughout recent entries in the series. 2K26 has 23 players who are rated 90 overall or higher, whereas 2K16 only has 6. In some cases, the way these video games measure player success has become considerably more generous. The first player to fall short of the 90 rating in 2K16 was Russell Westbrook, First Team All-NBA averaging a double double with points and assists. The first 89 overall baller in 2K26, on the other hand, is Evan Mobley, coming off a defensive player of the year season, Second Team All-NBA, and making the All-Defensive First Team. Pretty similar resumes. But, if Russ is the sixth best player, and Mobley is the twenty-sixth, are there actually twenty players better than 2016 Westbrook in the modern era?

Inflation Explanation​

The answer, is not that simple. There are some clear cases of players’ ratings being wildly out of proportion with their actual abilities, such as Ja Morant’s egregious 89 rating despire barely posting 20 points per game on a middling Grizzlies squad this year. The same can be said for Joel Embiid, whose production has fallen off of a cliff this season, but still retains a 90 overall status. Tyrese Maxey is having a true superstar year so far, averaging 33 points per game, but is the 29th highest rated player in the game, at more or less the same rating as DeRozan from 10 years ago, nowhere near that level of scoring. Clearly, there is a divorce between on-court production and rating in 2K, with a heavy bias for those with big names and previous years of good play. But, this also reflects a genuine change in what NBA basketball looks like. Players are putting up more points in the 25-26 season than they did in the 15-16 season, a reflection of the evolution of the league, and the increase in volume amongst contemporary stars. That said: the lack of consistency throughout the series is admittedly frustrating. Quickley, sitting at a 79 overall, is considered to be at the same as DeMarre Carroll, who put up eleven points and four boards per game, while Quickley is a respectable point guard putting up more points and assists, and roughly the same number of boards as a guard.

An internal consistency is not present in the ratings of the 2K franchise. The scale has shifted throughout the long history of the video games series, but we have reached a point where the series does not properly reflect the state of the NBA in the way that a simulation video game should. Ten years is a long time in basketball, and the landscape of the league is considerably different than what is was in the mid-2010s. But, the rating stinginess of the old games compared to the generosity and lopsidedness of the most recent entry boggles the mind to consider.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/general/4...ating-toronto-raptors-barnes-barrett-quickley

 

[Toronto Raptors]

Game preview: Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Toronto Raptors begin the back-end of their five-game Eastern Conference road trip against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST on TSN.

The matchup marks the second time in less than two weeks that the Raptors and Cavaliers play each other. In the previous contest, the Raptors defeated a depleted Cavaliers team 112-101. Since then, the Cavaliers are 5-1 and have leapfrogged the Raptors in the standings.

While Ochai Agbaji (lower back), Sando Mamukelsashvili (neck) and Collin Murray-Boyles (illness) all listed as questionable, here are three more storylines to pay attention to during the game.

NBA Cup payback?​

The Cavaliers aren’t completely whole, but they’re in better shape than the last time the Raptors saw them. During that ten-point loss to Toronto, the Cavaliers were without Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill and Max Strus.

Garland suffered an injury scare when he left in the third quarter of their 140-138 loss to the Miami Heat on Nov. 10. The six-foot-one guard experienced issues with the same toe which required surgery in the off-season. Garland could either miss the game against the Raptors or play on a minutes restriction.

While the Raptors might avoid having to contain Garland, they’ll have their hands full with the expected return of Mitchell and Mobley. The former all-stars intentionally sat out on Wednesday in their rematch against the Heat due to rest, suggesting that the 8-3 Cavaliers have the Raptors scheduled on their calendar.

Allen is also expected to suit up and he’s historically been difficult to handle. Last season, Allen averaged 17 points and 11.3 rebounds against the Raptors. It’ll continue to be a challenge for Toronto if Jakob Poeltl can’t play (or isn’t healthy) and if Scottie Barnes gets into foul trouble.

After missing three games with a hip contusion, Merrill is averaging 12 points in 25.8 minutes over four games. Strus, after undergoing foot surgery, has returned to shooting activities on the practice court but is still weeks away from playing in games.

A constant battle for consistency​

The Cavaliers may come out of the gates against the Raptors with renewed vigour. Part of that can be attributed to the fact that Toronto essentially knocked Cleveland out of the NBA Cup. Cleveland has never finished with a losing record in the tournament’s two-year history. They narrowly missed advancing past the group stage due to a point-differential tiebreaker in 2023-2024.

While the Raptors were healthier than the Cavaliers during their Halloween matchup, they were without Poeltl and Immanuel Quickley, with the latter still struggling with his jumper at the time. Quickly finished with four points on 22 per cent shooting against the Cavaliers. He also finished 0-for-3 from the perimeter.

Cleveland had a 90-86 lead with seven minutes remaining in the game. Toronto proceeded to go on a 19-8 run before Jamison Battle hit his sixth and final three with less than 40 seconds remaining. This was Battle’s early 2025-26 legacy game candidate, during which he knocked down all seven of his shot attempts. Battle has struggled to see the court since but could be relied on again if the Cavs pack the paint with their length.

Looking for the board man​

If Poeltl, Mamukelashvili, or Murray-Boyles either misses the game or doesn’t look close to healthy, the Raptors could be in for a long night. Despite the Cavaliers only ranking 17th in the league in rebounds per game (43.5), they should be tough to deal with on Thursday.

Even if all three aforementioned players suit up, a negative outcome could add another reason to the ever-growing pile arguing for Toronto to trade for an additional piece to help the frontcourt.

Mobley is averaging 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, while Allen is chipping in 7.7 rebounds and 1.0 block per game. The Raptors are 5-0 when they win the battle on the boards.

Source: https://www.raptorshq.com/raptors-analysis/48497/game-preview-toronto-raptors-vs-cleveland-cavaliers