#toronto-raptors

#toronto-raptors

The Raptors entered the week on a seven game win streak, but continuing it wouldn't be easy, as the team announced that RJ Barrett - the team's second leading scorer - would be out for a minimum of one week with a knee sprain, an injury suffered against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The 25-year-old wing appeared to sustain a non-contact injury after throwing down a fast break dunk in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

But over their last three games it's come plummeting back to earth in a big way. Having averaged 100 points even over that stretch as Brandon Ingram's miraculous shot-making has dried up and in the absence of RJ Barrett, Toronto dropped its second straight - after of course winning nine consecutive previously - in a 116-94 wire-to-wire loss to the New Yorks Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Things looked pretty bleak after a modest 2-4 start in October, raising doubts about their winning prospects. However, they flipped the script dramatically, starting November with three straight wins before a tough loss to the 76ers on November 8. That setback was followed by nine consecutive victories, which definitely put the Raptors on the NBA map as a team to watch -though for some, it only deepened questions about whether Toronto is a true contender.

Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett have been stellar in their roles to start the year. Both have been efficient and a critical part of the team's early-season success. Poeltlis shooting a mind-boggling 73.3% from the field and helps initiate the offense with rock-solid screens. Barretthas continued to thrive as a crucial offensive option in the team pecking order, putting up almost 20 points (19.4) per game on quality efficiency.

I personally learned that lesson right after buying my first car. Before you ask, it was nothing serious - the only injury suffered was to my ego. I had hardly driven since getting my licence, so a midnight cruise after bringing the car home felt right. The longer I drove around the empty neighbourhood streets, the more comfortable (overconfident) I felt, and the more pressure my foot applied on the accelerator.

In most games against lower competition this season, Toronto has not let games slip away, this is a team that has beaten the teams they should beat and that should continue tonight as well. On paper this game looks like it should be a blowout in Toronto's favor, but Washington does have some microwave scorers that can keep things close if Toronto takes their foot off the gas.

Second seed in the Eastern Conference and atop their Atlantic Division, the Toronto Raptors have been absolutely bulldozing through their opposition as of late, boasting a superb 9-1 record in their last 10 contests. The Raps have a win percentage of 66.7 percent, beating their opponents by an average point differential of +5.0, riding an ongoing five-game winning streak, and a 10-5 record overall in the East landscape.

This time, Joel Embiid was out and Poetl was back, and the intensity and pace of the game reignited an old rivalry. In the third, IQ splashed a 3-ball on his former Kentucky teammate and top-three league scorer Tyrese Maxey. This came after IQ ran a high pick-and-roll with Scottie, got downhill with a full head of steam, pitched the ball to Poeltl, and relocated. Maxey lost sight of him and was way too late to close out.

Even though the Raptors starting lineup had slowly crept back into respectability prior to tonight's tip off (they were a slight positive at +1.3 per 100 possessions, across 229 of them) it was a a return to a lesser form to kick things off. Unable to solve the Pacers, who were staying at home defensively, and slumping from downtown, the Raptors found themselves in a hole early.

For many, the start of the 2025-26 Toronto Raptors season was quickly showing a bleak view of their position in the Eastern Conference, as they couldn't match their strong season opener in the games that followed and instead went on a disappointing losing streak. If you think about that stretch, you also have to remember that Toronto was working on figuring out their roster chemistry,

The Toronto Raptors have been heavily scrutinized for their controversial approach to building the current rotation. Many have accused them of building a relatively redundant team, with players sharing similar strengths and weaknesses, and thus being unlikely to complement one another. As Toronto continues to exceed expectations early in 2025-26, however, star wing RJ Barrett explained what makes the team so dangerous: There's no player to ease up on.

The NBA has instituted yet another new format for the All-Star Game, one that will ensure there are eight international All-Stars no matter what. That could provide a way for RJ Barrett to make his first ever All-Star Game - a brand new loophole, if you will, for the Canadian wing to skate right through. The Toronto Raptors did not have an All-Star last season as they stumbled their way through a lost year.