Raptors, minus Kawhi, decide up win over Clippers in Vancouver

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Kawhi Leonard didn’t play towards his previous staff on Saturday night time in Vancouver. It didn’t matter, as his new squad didn’t want him.

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Leonard sat, as anticipated however towards an undermanned opponent that has already been ravaged by accidents, together with to ex-Raptor Brandon Ingram, it made no distinction because the Raptors received the primary three quarters to take a commanding lead on the way in which to a 114-106 victory.

The Raptors appeared way more in sync in comparison with the ugly pre-season opener in Quebec Metropolis, a simple 129-105 Miami Warmth win. However the perfect signal for the staff was how beginning centre Jakob Poeltl was transferring. Poeltl appeared to be caught in mud too usually final season when a foul again restricted his mobility, however after a brand new low season exercise plan, he’s come again way more cellular. Poeltl was everywhere early, operating the ground, diving to the courtroom, blocking photographs and ending performs. Sure, matching up with Brook Lopez helped Poeltl look extra spry (Lopez stays a strong participant, however is in his 18th season and is almost 300 kilos), but it surely wasn’t simply that.

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If the Raptors get anyplace near this stage of Poeltl all through the season they’ll be much better than most anticipate. He may not be as essential a bit as he was a number of years in the past when the staff principally couldn’t win when he wasn’t within the lineup, however he can nonetheless be fairly necessary.

Poeltl has additionally appeared to play his greatest with Immanuel Quickley enjoying alongside him and the duo complemented one another properly on this one. Quickley was the perfect participant on the ground within the first half (RJ Barrett was strong too), with Toronto taking a 57-44 lead.

Quickley turned it up one other notch within the third quarter because the Raptors continued to tug away, hitting a flurry of three-pointers (Quickley linked on all however one among his six three-point makes an attempt). Scottie Barnes was additionally sharp, at occasions wanting like a person enjoying towards boys, particularly on the glass.

With Toronto going deep into its bench within the fourth, Los Angeles staged a rally, occurring a 17-6 run to begin the quarter.

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Lacking in motion

Whereas Leonard was the massive title lacking for the Raptors, there had been hope that Allen Graves, chosen nineteenth total at June’s draft, would be capable of swimsuit as much as make his exhibition Raptors debut. Graves had appeared higher than a lot of the competitors at July’s NBA Summer season League in Las Vegas and had impressed his new teammates all through the summer time, however was held out resulting from his groin damage.

Since Graves was near enjoying Saturday, per reporters in Vancouver, there’s a good chance he’s within the lineup Tuesday for Toronto’s lone house exhibition towards the defending champion New York Knicks. We’d anticipate a Leonard sighting as properly for that one. He’s usually performed in at the very least two exhibitions per season when wholesome and the Raptors have solely three left after Saturday, with the ultimate two being a back-to-back set. There’s no likelihood Leonard performs in each legs of the back-to-back. We’re not load administration specialists, however Tuesday at house towards the Knicks and at Detroit three days later appears about proper.

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The Raptors have been additionally with out third-string centre Trayce Jackson-Davis, prospect massive man Nate Bittle and second-year wing Alijah Martin resulting from accidents.

Within the combine

The staff did get free agent pickup Kyle Anderson in and it was thought taking pictures menace Jamison Battle would play too after each missed the Miami sport. Battle ended up not enjoying, however it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if both can work their manner into Darko Rajakovic’s rotation persistently.

Battle performed in 59 after which 61 video games in his two seasons with Toronto, however averaged about half the minutes in 2025-26 in comparison with the earlier 12 months when the Raptors have been ravaged by accidents. Nonetheless, he’s the perfect three-point shooter on the staff and had some massive moments within the playoffs towards Cleveland. Contemplating Toronto is among the worst taking pictures groups within the NBA, it’s laborious to think about Battle not getting himself a glance, particularly since Leonard might be rested for a bunch of video games.

Anderson needs to be a extra attention-grabbing case. He’s one among Toronto’s oldest gamers with loads of expertise and averaged slightly below 20 minutes a sport at three stops final season. Whereas some have likened his signing to easily changing veteran chief Garrett Temple, who not often performed, Anderson nonetheless believes he has a lot within the tank and has a diverse skill-set. He additionally spent two years in Memphis when Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic was a key member of the teaching workers and each are followers of one another. That first season occurs to be the perfect of Anderson’s 12-year profession. He averaged 12.4 factors in 69 video games, all begins.

However he’s not a three-point menace in any respect, which may very well be a difficulty with a bunch that already has a type of in Poeltl and others like Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles who’re inconsistent from outdoors at greatest. Anderson was quiet towards the Clippers.

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