The Raptors may have come up short in a 121-117 overtime loss to the Clippers on Friday, but the box score doesn’t tell the whole story. For Toronto, this wasn’t just another L in the standings-it was a night filled with promising performances and signs of real growth across the roster.
Let’s start with Jamal Shead, who brought energy and poise on both ends of the floor. His defensive hustle and offensive composure gave the Raptors a steady hand throughout the game.
Then there was Scottie Barnes, who once again showed why he's the heartbeat of this team. Barnes took control late, attacking with purpose and making plays when it mattered most.
Brandon Ingram came out hot early, setting the tone offensively, even if he cooled off as the game wore on.
Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles also made his presence felt. He’s been quietly carving out a role, and Friday night was another step forward-he looked comfortable, confident, and capable of contributing in meaningful minutes.
Wing Ochai Agbaji turned in one of his better outings of the season, showing flashes of the two-way potential the Raptors have been hoping to unlock. And Sandro Mamukelashvili delivered a solid performance as well, providing versatility and smart decision-making in his minutes.
But the standout storyline? Gradey Dick.
The third-year wing is starting to find his rhythm, and it’s coming at just the right time. After dropping 21 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in a win over Indiana, Dick followed it up with 15 points, 7 boards, and-perhaps most importantly-three made three-pointers. That’s the first time he’s hit three from deep in a game since early November, and for a shooter who had dipped below 30% from beyond the arc this season, that’s a welcome sight.
“Just continue to build my rhythm,” Dick said postgame, and that’s exactly what he’s doing.
It wasn’t just the shooting, either. Dick was all over the floor-diving for loose balls, making smart passes, reading the game with a sharper eye. He looked like a player who’s starting to put it all together.
Jamal Shead took notice, too.
“Honestly, I love the fact that Gradey’s starting to play a little better because he’s been taking the same shots that he’s been taking all year, the same shots that he was taking and making last year,” Shead said. “He’s been confident, he’s trusted his work, and he’s getting active on the defensive end. He’s screening, he’s rolling-he’s just finding new ways to impact winning.”
That’s the kind of growth that doesn’t always show up on a highlight reel but makes a real difference in a team’s trajectory.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic echoed that sentiment, pointing to Dick’s energy and confidence as key drivers of his improved play. “I thought that when he started making shots, his defence improved from that point as well,” Rajakovic noted.
The Raptors have never wavered in their belief in Dick, and the young wing hasn’t lost confidence in himself, either. He’s learning how to weather the ups and downs of a long season-and more importantly, how to contribute even when the shot isn’t falling.
“I really focus on other aspects of the game, I think that’s what this has taught me to get through (shooting slumps),” Dick said. “As a shooter, you have to have a short-term memory.
I feel like I’ve kept that even with maybe missing some here and there. I’m gonna shoot the next one, and I don’t really think about a miss, really ever.”
That mindset is what separates shooters who struggle from shooters who survive-and eventually thrive.
“You just got to put more work in and see it go through the hole at the end of the day,” Dick added. “If you’re worried about what people are saying, then it’s just only going to be worse.
They’re not in your position. They’re not in the NBA.”
He’s right. And if this recent stretch is any indication, Gradey Dick is starting to show why he belongs.