TORONTO – The primary half of the Toronto Raptors’ season ended the identical approach it began — with a blowout loss at dwelling towards the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Donovan Mitchell scored 21 factors to guide the Japanese Convention-leading Cavaliers to a 131-108 drubbing of the Raptors on Wednesday at Scotiabank Enviornment.
It mirrored the 136-106 win Cleveland kicked off the marketing campaign with again in October.
Toronto (17-38) now sits thirteenth within the Japanese Convention because it heads into all-star weekend on the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Middle in San Francisco, whereas Cleveland (44-10) is comfortably first.
Gradey Dick would be the lone Raptors’ consultant in California when he participates in Friday’s rrising stars recreation.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley had been all chosen to the all-star recreation with head coach Kenny Atkinson.
The remainder of the Raptors will take an eight-day break earlier than returning for the ultimate 27 video games of the season.
“I feel it’s gonna be essential, our mentality and our method,” head coach Darko Rajakovic mentioned. “We gotta proceed growing. Now we have a number of younger guys which might be getting very precious minutes.
“We have to perceive and see the large image of how these guys must develop and what it’s gonna imply for us sooner or later.”
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Earlier Wednesday, Toronto introduced it had signed a multi-year extension with newcomer Brandon Ingram. The deal is reportedly for 3 years and value US$120 million.
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The Raptors acquired the one-time all-star ahead from the New Orleans Pelicans finally Thursday’s commerce deadline in change for Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown, and first- and second-round picks.
The 27-year-old Ingram is nursing a sprained left ankle and mentioned he isn’t certain when he’ll be able to make his Raptors debut.
When he does, the primary order of enterprise shall be establishing chemistry with the Raptors’ core gamers.
“I need to simply get on the market and play basketball,” Ingram mentioned in a pre-game press convention Wednesday. “It’s been some time since I’ve been again on the ground. And I feel the adrenalin, I’m gonna be excited to play. I feel I’ll have the ability to simply slot in wherever.
“In fact I prefer to have the basketball in my palms, but in addition, I prefer to move too. Happening the ground with high-IQ guys, it all the time helps. And I feel our crew has a number of high-IQ guys.”
Canada’s RJ Barrett, who led the Raptors with 27 factors towards the Cavs, smiled when requested in regards to the addition of Ingram.
“It’s large time, you get a participant like that coming right here. It’s large for us, large for the group,” mentioned Barrett, who returned after lacking 4 video games as a result of concussion protocols.
“We’re blissful to have him right here and as soon as he’s capable of play and we get to see what it’s like with all of us on the market, I’m certain it’ll be a enjoyable time.”
The ultimate stretch of the season will seemingly see elevated enjoying time for Toronto’s 5 rookies — Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamal Shead, Ulrich Chomche and Jamison Battle.
Battle, who not too long ago signed his personal three-year contract with the crew, led the freshmen with 11 factors towards the Cavaliers.
Chomche battled towards Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in Toronto’s 106-103 victory on Tuesday. He then circled and performed for Raptors 905 of the NBA’s G League on Wednesday morning in Mississauga, Ont.
“He’s studying what it takes to be skilled and the way to method every single day with the identical need and mentality,” Rajakovic mentioned.
With the sport towards the Cavaliers properly out of hand and the shot clock turned off within the dying seconds, Canadian Cavaliers ahead Tristan Thompson scored a garbage-time layup that caught the ire of the Raptors.
After the ultimate buzzer, Shead met Thompson at midcourt whereas followers loudly booed.
“I feel what Tristan did there was no class and disrespectful. I’m not gonna stand for that for certain and I’m actually glad that our guys, our gamers, from Jamal — who was on the courtroom and Scottie and all people else — that they stood up for themselves,” Rajakovic mentioned.
“I like when my crew stands up for themselves.”
It’s that sort of spirit the coach hopes will set in every day over the remainder of the 12 months — and into subsequent season, too.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Feb. 12, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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