The Toronto Raptors just notched their 31st win of the season - and we haven’t even hit All-Star Weekend. That’s already more than they managed all of last year.
So yes, the bar has been raised. Expectations are shifting, and Wednesday night’s matchup against a makeshift Chicago Bulls squad wasn’t just another game - it was one the Raptors had to win.
Chicago, fresh off a trade deadline overhaul that brought in seven new players, was essentially rolling out a rotation that looked more like the Windy City Bulls than the actual NBA roster. And Toronto took full advantage.
This was a night for experimentation, and head coach Darko Rajaković leaned into it. Scottie Barnes slid into more of a playmaking role, showing off his vision and feel for the game.
Brandon Ingram, meanwhile, shifted away from his usual midrange-heavy attack - and the results were impressive. Immanuel Quickley had the green light from deep, and his volume shooting helped open up the floor for everyone else.
Let’s talk about Ingram for a second. He came out scorching, hitting from all over the floor but notably staying away from his midrange comfort zone.
Just four of his 13 first-half shots came from that area. He was locked in - the kind of locked in where you start checking the box score to see if he’s flirting with a career-high.
He didn’t push for it, but still finished with a smooth 33 points on just 20 shots. Efficient.
Effortless. Dominant.
Toronto, a team that hasn’t exactly been known for its three-point shooting, flipped the script. They hit 14 triples at a 41% clip - a rare sight and a welcome one.
Ingram led the way with five threes on nine attempts, while Sandro Mamukelashvili added four of his own on six tries. When the Raptors are hitting from deep like that, the offense hums.
With RJ Barrett out, rookie Walter got the start - and made the most of it. He attacked the lane with confidence, finishing at the rim and giving the Raptors 12 points in 31 solid minutes. It was a glimpse of what he can bring when given the opportunity.
It was also a chance for Gradey Dick and Jalen Battle to get some meaningful minutes. Dick, though, had a rough go defensively.
The Bulls hunted him in his limited run, and he struggled to hold up - a reminder that there’s still work to be done on that end. Battle, on the other hand, brought some intensity on defense but couldn’t find his rhythm from deep - ironic, given the Raptors were lighting it up from behind the arc.
From a front-office lens, the Bulls made aggressive moves at the deadline. Whether those moves pan out remains to be seen, but it’s the kind of bold reshuffling that some Raptors fans might be wishing for. Toronto’s roster, by contrast, remains largely untouched - which could come back into focus when they face a scrappy Pistons team next week.
For now, though, the Raptors have some breathing room. With a few days before taking on the Pacers, there’s time to tinker, test lineups, and keep building on what’s working. This team isn’t just better than it was last year - it’s growing into something more dangerous.