The Raptors didn’t need Kawhi Leonard to get the job done in Vancouver.
Leonard sat out Saturday night against his old team, and the Clippers were too banged up to make Toronto pay. With injuries already taking a toll on the roster - including to ex-Raptor Brandon Ingram - the Raptors controlled the first three quarters and rolled to a 114-106 preseason win.
Toronto looked far more organized than it did in its ugly exhibition opener in Quebec City, a 129-105 loss to the Miami Heat. The clearest positive, though, came from Jakob Poeltl.
The starting center appeared much lighter on his feet than he did for much of last season, when a bad back sapped his mobility. After a new offseason workout plan, Poeltl was active early, sprinting the floor, diving to the court, blocking shots and finishing plays.
Brook Lopez’s presence helped set that tone - he’s still a solid player, but he’s in his 18th season and nearly 300 pounds - but Poeltl’s movement looked better than that matchup alone would explain.
Poeltl also seemed to benefit from playing beside Immanuel Quickley, and the two clicked well in this one. Quickley was Toronto’s best player in the first half, with RJ Barrett also steady, as the Raptors built a 57-44 lead.
Quickley raised his level again in the third quarter while Toronto kept stretching the margin. He caught fire from deep, hitting all but one of his six three-point tries. Scottie Barnes looked sharp as well, and at times he seemed to be overpowering the competition, especially on the boards.
Since Graves was close to playing Saturday, per reporters in Vancouver, there’s an excellent chance he’s in the lineup Tuesday for Toronto’s lone home exhibition against the defending champion New York Knicks. We’d expect a Leonard sighting as well for that one.
He’s generally played in at least two exhibitions per season when healthy and the Raptors have only three left after Saturday, with the final two being a back-to-back set. There’s no chance Leonard plays in both legs of the back-to-back.
We’re not load management specialists, but Tuesday at home against the Knicks and at Detroit three days later seems about right.
In Other News...
Andre Drummond Brings Knicks More Than A Typical Backup Center
Andre Drummond arrives in New York as more than a familiar big body off the bench. The Knicks signed a veteran center who has continued to refine his game late in his career, showing better efficiency and a more rounded offensive touch than the typical reserve rim protector. For a team that values toughness, rebounding and depth in the frontcourt, that kind of evolution gives Drummond a little extra appeal beyond the usual insurance-policy role.
Drummond also comes in with a place in NBA history still within reach, which adds another layer to his late-career chase. He sits 27th on the leagues all-time rebounding list with 11,513 boards, and the next name above him is Dennis Rodman, a standard-bearer for one of the leagues great rebounders. If Drummond keeps his place in a rotation and stays productive, the Knicks could end up watching a personal milestone race unfold in the background while they sort out their own season. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Just Added An Awkward Karl-Anthony Towns Tension Before Opening Night
With opening night getting closer, the Knicks have chosen to put extension talks on hold for now, a move aimed at keeping the focus on basketball and the clubs payroll situation rather than contract drama. The team has been working with an eye on staying under the second apron while still trying to sort out long-term deals, but no agreement has been reached yet for either Josh Hart or Karl-Anthony Towns.
For Towns, the delay landed as a real letdown. He made it clear he understood the business side of the decision and said the priority has to be the season, but the timing still created an awkward layer around a roster that is supposed to be settling in for a fresh start. The Knicks can revisit the talks later, though for now the unanswered question is how that contract picture will affect the mood around two important pieces of their rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Roster Battle Is Raising One Tough Question Early
The preseason has already started to sort out the Knicks roster picture, and the early minutes have not been distributed evenly. Veterans such as Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks and Tony Bradley have been on the edge of the rotation look, while the staff has leaned more toward younger options as it evaluates who fits best around the groups core and what the team still needs before opening night.
James Wiseman and Jaden Akins have been among the more noticeable beneficiaries of that approach, with both getting extended chances to show they can help. Wiseman has flashed real efficiency in limited action, and Akins has been one of the quieter surprises so far, but the bigger question still lingers around whether the Knicks may eventually use a trade to create more room and make these preseason performances matter even more. [Read more 🡒]