Collin Murray-Boyles has already shown he can change a game without putting up big scoring numbers. The problem for the Raptors is that this season is supposed to be the one where the offense catches up.
Through three games, it hasn’t happened yet. Murray-Boyles is averaging 5.7 points, and his quietest outing came in the Raptors’ 117-94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He finished with three points on 1-for-3 shooting, with his only real clean look coming on a wide-open dunk around the 4:40 mark in the second quarter off a pick-and-roll with RJ Barrett. After that, he added one free throw, then missed a 3-pointer and a free-throw line jumper.
The lack of involvement stood out even more because Toronto had already lost Kawhi Leonard to a late scratch because of a knee issue and got almost nothing from Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. Barnes and Poeltl combined to go 0-of-14 from the field and were held scoreless, and while Barnes’s energy was the bigger issue, the Raptors still could have used a more assertive night from Murray-Boyles.
Jamal Shead, Allen Graves and Jamison Battle all took more shots than Murray-Boyles. Defense is still his calling card, but if Toronto wants to tap into the next level of his game, he has to be more active on offense, even when the matchup is packed with big, defense-first frontcourt players.
There was at least one encouraging note. Murray-Boyles helped the Raptors on the boards, finishing with a team-high seven rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.
Ja’Kobe Walter, meanwhile, looked like Toronto’s most productive reserve so far.
With Leonard out, Walter entered the starting lineup against Minnesota and delivered one of the few bright spots in the loss. He knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 31 minutes. He led the Raptors in scoring, finishing two points ahead of RJ Barrett.
It was Walter’s best performance of the season to this point and his first efficient night from deep. If he keeps shooting it like that while handling his end of the perimeter defense, he could push himself into the conversation as Toronto’s most productive bench piece over Murray-Boyles - and that would suit the Raptors just fine. They need both players to keep growing.
Walter may also have the cleaner runway to big scoring nights off the bench. He’s a year ahead of Murray-Boyles in his development, doesn’t have to mix it up inside as often against much bigger bodies, and isn’t being asked to fit alongside two other frontcourt players who don’t stretch the floor much. Add in the fact that he can realistically hit a few 3-pointers every game, and the path to eye-catching numbers gets a lot simpler.
In Other News...
Scottie Barnes Just Faced The Raptors Question Fans Feared Most
The Raptors loss to Minnesota came with the sort of backdrop that makes every possession feel a little heavier, especially with Kawhi Leonard out of the lineup. Scottie Barnes was still active defensively, piling up four steals and a block, but the offense never followed. He went 0-for-12 from the floor, missed all five of his three-point tries and did not get to the free-throw line, a box score line that stood out even in a game Toronto would rather forget.
For a team trying to define its identity around Barnes, the larger concern was less the cold shooting than the way the night looked from an assertiveness standpoint. The Raptors need him to be more than a defensive disruptor when the scoring load shifts his way, and this was one of those games that left questions hanging in the air. When a player with his profile goes quiet offensively, it naturally pushes the conversation from one bad night toward what Toronto can count on next. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Just Got A Harsh Reminder About Life Without Kawhi
The Raptors' first loss of the season came with a jolt on the road, where Minnesota handed them a 117-94 defeat and exposed how thin the margin can be when the lineup is missing a proven closer. Ja'Kobe Walter gave Toronto a bright spot in his first start, finishing with 22 points, but the rest of the offense never found a consistent rhythm against a Timberwolves team that controlled the night.
Scottie Barnes' scoreless outing, going 0 for 12 from the field, only added to the frustration for a team that suddenly looked far less stable without Kawhi Leonard available because of knee swelling. It was one game, but it also served as a reminder that Toronto still has to figure out where the reliable offense comes from when one of its top options is out and the shot-making dries up. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Strong Start Now Comes With A Familiar Kawhi Concern
Torontos 2-0 start has given the Raptors an early lift, and now they head into their next test against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a little more uncertainty than they probably wanted this soon. The opening week has offered a reminder of how quickly momentum can build in the NBA, but it has also kept the focus on the teams health picture, which is always a major storyline when the season is still young.
Kawhi Leonard is reportedly expected to miss the upcoming game because of swelling in his left knee, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, and it adds another familiar layer to his season-long management. Leonard has already acknowledged that the knee remains an issue and has stressed the need for patience with both his playing time and recovery, which makes every update worth watching as the Raptors try to keep their early rhythm intact. [Read more 🡒]