Sandro Mamukelashvili is quietly emerging as the Raptors' saving grace

"The Raptors haven't had an easy time as the new year rolled in, especially with the ongoing concern over Jakob Poeltl's status. Without their only true center in the lineup, the team has had to make do with the roster resources available to them in the meantime. Looking for a boost from Sandro Mamukelashvili, a guy who's been an absolute offseason win in every sense and a real threat for the Raptors' bench, Toronto has continued to benefit from Mamu's masterful play - even in his slightly adjusted role."

"Averaging 27.9 minutes over his last five games, Mamukelashvili's stats really showcase his all-around brilliance: 18.2 points on 62.1% shooting, 46.2% from three, along with 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and nearly a steal per game ( 0.8). He's been a key part of the Raptors' 3-2 run over that five-game stretch, as they're currently riding a three-game winning streak to close out this West Coast trip. As a matter of fact, in Toronto's last outing against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 23, Sandro Mamukelashvili led all Raptors scorers with 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep, and a team-high plus/minus of +25."

"The reason I say Mamu has been flying under the radar, it feels like the spotlight is often on Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and even Immanuel Quickley - especially after his recent barn burner against Golden State. Meanwhile, Mamukleashvili keeps consistently showing up as a smooth operator and a big-time bucket-getter, even though he's not the top star per se. Toronto needs every bit of that, especially after recently losing another blooming Raptors stud in Collin Murray-Boyles, who's also been filling in at the five during Jakob Poeltl's absence."

Sandro Mamukelashvili has provided a major boost for the Toronto Raptors amid concerns about Jakob Poeltl's availability. Over his last five games he has averaged 27.9 minutes, 18.2 points on 62.1% shooting, 46.2% from three, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 0.8 steals. Mamukelashvili has been integral to a 3-2 stretch and a three-game winning streak to close a West Coast trip, including a 22-point, 9-for-15 outing versus Portland. He has consistently delivered scoring and floor impact while other players often draw more spotlight, and he can remain valuable even when other rotation players return.

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