Raptors 905 Deliver Statement Win Over Motor City Cruise-No Help Needed
On a day when the Raptors 905 could’ve used a boost from their NBA parent club, they didn’t just hold their own-they dominated. With no two-way or assignment players in uniform, the 905 rolled out an eight-man rotation and still managed to dismantle a Motor City Cruise team featuring three players on assignment from the Detroit Pistons: Wendell Moore Jr., Chaz Lanier, and Bobi Klintman.
The Cruise went 11 deep. It didn’t matter.
The turning point? A third quarter that felt like a mic drop.
Down five at halftime, the 905 came out of the break and absolutely blitzed the Cruise with a 35-point outburst. Meanwhile, Motor City could barely get out of its own way, scoring just 11 points in the quarter while coughing up eight turnovers-matching their entire first-half total. Their offense dried up, their rhythm vanished, and their confidence followed.
The Cruise’s three NBA assignments combined for exactly zero points. That’s not a typo.
Zero. Nada.
Zilch. They were invisible in a game where their presence was supposed to tilt the balance.
Instead, it was the 905 who looked like the team with NBA-caliber talent.
One of the biggest sparks came from Tyson Degenhart, who had himself a moment in that third quarter. He completed two and-ones, including a falling floater that somehow dropped through the net-an off-balance prayer that turned into a highlight.
Then there was David Roddy. After dropping 26 the day before, he poured in 14 in this one-but nine of those came in the third quarter alone, capped off by a thunderous two-handed jam that punctuated the 905’s dominant frame.
The fourth quarter was less about flash and more about focus. Canadian forward Matthew Moncrieffe became a target as the 905 attacked him repeatedly, forcing his fourth foul in just 15 minutes.
Roddy picked on him in the third, and Julian Reese continued the pressure in the fourth. Head coach Drew Jones wasn’t about to let his team coast to the finish line, either.
With 8:51 left, he could be heard shouting, “Sense of urgency! Sense of urgency!”
from the sideline. And when Hoggard lost his man in transition with under four minutes to go, Jones called a timeout to reset the intensity.
This wasn’t just a win-it was a message. The 905 didn’t need reinforcements from the 416 or 647. They had enough firepower in Mississauga to take care of business against a team repping the 313.
Julian Reese: A Big Man Growing in Real Time
If you’ve been watching Julian Reese closely, you’ve seen the flashes. But in this game, we saw something more: growth, adjustment, and flat-out dominance.
Just a day after struggling against Moses Brown, Reese bounced back in a big way with 20 points and 17 rebounds-including seven on the offensive glass. That’s not just production; that’s presence.
Early on, it didn’t look like it would be his day. In the first quarter, he got blocked by Makhi Mitchell and lost his footing on a couple of possessions.
A high-post bounce pass attempt to TD-something he’s executed before-ended up as a turnover. But instead of shrinking, Reese responded.
He put up eight points in the second quarter alone, matching Jarkel Joiner for the team-high in the frame. When the Cruise made a run-Lanier hit back-to-back threes to push the lead to nine-Reese helped stabilize things.
He got more touches, drew contact in the post, and even got tangled up with Symir Torrence in a moment that earned both players technicals. Coach Jones brushed it off: “They just talking!
It’s just basketball!”
Reese’s defensive impact showed up too. After getting scored on by Drew Peterson earlier, he later trapped Lanier in the corner, forcing Klintman into a desperation three that airballed as the shot clock expired. Reese followed that up by drawing a foul on O’mar Stanley and knocking down the free throw to trim the Cruise lead to three heading into halftime.
Coach Jones was clearly impressed with his rookie big man. “He’s doing a great job of embracing that physicality,” Jones said. “I think that’s who he is, and I think the next stage for him is mentally and emotionally being able to fight through some of the tough calls or when teams are beating him up because of his size.”
It’s clear the 905 are giving Reese the reps to grow-and he’s making the most of them.
What’s Next for the 905
The road ahead won’t be easy. The Raptors 905 are heading into a six-game road trip with a lengthy All-Star break in the middle. They’ll face the Cleveland Charge, Windy City Bulls, and College Park Skyhawks-two games apiece-before returning home to face the Greensboro Swarm in back-to-back matchups.
Alijah Martin and A.J. Lawson are set to represent in the G League Up Next Game, but the focus for the rest of the squad is clear: keep building, keep grinding, and keep proving they can compete-no matter who’s on the other side.