Murray-Boyles had 17 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists in an impactful efficiency for the Raptors as Toronto topped the Atlanta Hawks 118-100 on Monday. He additionally had three steals and two blocks, main the Raptors with a plus-24 defensive ranking.
“Should you’re not drained, you’re not going exhausting sufficient, so I attempt to be as drained as attainable,” stated Murray-Boyles with fun.
Murray-Boyles began at centre instead of Jakob Poeltl, who stays out with a sore decrease again. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic confirmed pre-game that Poeltl had been cleared for contact, nevertheless.
Whether or not it’s steals or blocks, Murray-Boyles additionally has a easy philosophy on how one can disrupt opposing groups.
“It’s principally simply not having your arms by your aspect, like, that helps quite a bit with it,” he stated. “Simply being lively, having your arms up makes your life approach simpler.”
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The six-foot-seven ahead was chosen ninth general by Toronto in final summer season’s NBA Draft. Murray-Boyles performed energy ahead for the South Carolina Gamecocks however, on the undersized Raptors, has been pressed into service at centre with Poeltl unavailable.
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The 20-year-old was averaging 6.8 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 18.8 minutes per recreation heading into Monday’s win over Atlanta. He’s performed a minimum of 24:45 in every of his final 5 video games, nevertheless, as he earns Rajakovic’s belief.
“A standard mistake is when a participant is available in, you have already got an concept of what he must be. Generally we as coaches simply attempt to field them in,” stated Rajakovic. “We’re consistently studying about Collin, what he can do, how he’s studying, how he’s selecting up on issues. It’s actually spectacular, his improvement.
“The chance he’s taking over proper now, he’s doing spectacular issues for us.”
Murray-Boyles has discovered a kindred spirit in Scottie Barnes, with the pair an efficient duo on defence.
“We’re each across the similar measurement, we’re each bodily, we each guard very well, we will transfer our ft, we will guard the very best of them,” stated Barnes, who’s an inch taller than Murray-Boyles however famous that he’s about 20 kilos lighter than the rookie.
“Once we’re on the market on the ground, we see a display come collectively, we do an ideal job of after we wish to swap. Relies on the scout, the sport plan, what we wish to do, it really works.”
Murray-Boyles stated that, for his half, he’s drawing inspiration from Barnes who received the NBA rookie of the 12 months award in 2022.
“He brings power. He’s most likely, I believe, the very best defensive participant based mostly off of simply his versatility and his effort,” stated Murray-Boyles. “Simply watching that, particularly as a younger man, form of comparable measurement, clearly, seeing what he does, it simply makes me wish to imitate that and simply be the very best I might be.”
The Raptors (22-15) take their two-game win streak to Charlotte on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 6, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
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