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[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