Collin Murray-Boyles has wasted no time making his presence felt for Toronto, even if the raw numbers don’t shout it from the rooftops. Through the first two games of the season, the Raptors rookie has averaged 7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game.
That line is solid. The bigger story is everything happening around it.
Toronto has looked noticeably different with Murray-Boyles on the floor, and the on/off numbers back that up. In the season opener, he logged only 19 minutes in a 43-point blowout of the Chicago Bulls, and the Raptors were plus-28 in his minutes. That kind of swing can get inflated in a runaway game, though, so the second outing carried more weight.
Against the Washington Wizards, Murray-Boyles again saw limited run, this time because foul trouble cut him down to 17 minutes. Even so, Toronto still won by 10, and he finished with a team-high plus-21. That’s the kind of mark that catches your eye because it matches what you see live: every time he checked in, the energy shifted.
His defensive footprint has been the loudest part of the start. Murray-Boyles has been active, disruptive and relentless, whether he’s jumping an entry pass intended for the much larger Anthony Davis or scrapping for better position on the glass. The Raptors seem to get an instant jolt when he enters the game.
The next step is obvious. These first two games are a promising opening, but they’re still just two games.
Offensively, Murray-Boyles hasn’t shown much growth yet. Some fans expected a more polished three-point shot and more shot creation off the dribble this season, but that hasn’t surfaced so far.
He has taken only one three-pointer, and he missed it. He hasn’t done much to generate his own offense either.
Still, the foundation is there. If Murray-Boyles keeps bringing that defensive impact and nonstop motor while his offensive game comes along, this could turn into a true breakout season for the 2025 ninth overall pick.
The schedule ahead will provide a strong test. Toronto’s next three games come against the Minnesota Timberwolves and two games against the Orlando Magic.
Minnesota has opened the season hot, winning its first two games by an average of 23.5 points. Orlando has dropped its first two, but the Magic are still viewed as a strong team led by two All-Star-caliber wings.
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Raptors Get Pulled Into Another Warriors Fix Fans Will Recognize
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One of the cleaner ideas floated in the outside chatter involves Torontos RJ Barrett, whose expiring contract makes him the sort of player contenders can circle without committing too deeply. CBS Sports Sam Quinn pointed to Barrett as a possible fit for Golden State, a way to add scoring and reshape the back end of the roster without surrendering the future outright. For the Raptors, it is the kind of rumor that comes with any movable veteran on an expiring deal, and for the Warriors, it is another reminder that the path back to contention may run through uncomfortable choices. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Win Again But One Early Concern Still Lingers
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Barnes paced the team in scoring and rebounds, but the turnover count offered a reminder that the Raptors still have some rough edges to smooth out as the schedule settles in. The defense and energy traveled well enough to produce a second straight victory, yet the missed shots from deep and the sloppy possessions around Barnes are the kind of issues that can linger if Toronto does not clean them up soon. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Defense Just Did Something Fans Rarely See Against Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis arrived in the next matchup after a big opening night and promptly ran into a Toronto defense that looked nothing like the one opposing stars usually prefer to see. The Raptors, undersized as they were, kept him out of rhythm all game and turned a difficult individual assignment into a team win, taking control of the matchup enough to leave with a 10-point victory.
For Toronto, the bigger takeaway may be how rare this kind of night was against Davis. He finished with 9 points on 25% shooting, the first time the Raptors had held him below 20 since November 2022, and it fit the early-season pattern of a group that has opened with a sharp defensive edge. Through two games, Toronto has already shown up near the top of the league in several defensive categories, a promising sign for a team trying to build its identity on that end. [Read more 🡒]