The Toronto Raptors came out swinging, opening the game with an 18-4 blitz that set the tone early. Fueled by a defense that looked like it had something to prove, the Raptors swarmed the Clippers from the opening tip. James Harden saw double teams and help defenders at every turn, LA’s drives were swallowed up, and Toronto turned defense into offense with quick leak-outs and transition buckets.
Jamal Shead was the engine behind it all. The rookie guard was electric in the first quarter, pushing pace, slicing through defenders, and making sharp reads.
He racked up 10 points and 5 assists in the opening frame, using his speed to create space and finish plays at the rim or draw contact. It was a statement start for a young player who continues to grow into his role.
But as hot as Toronto started, the Clippers didn’t flinch. LA slowed the tempo, leaned into their half-court offense, and let the game come to them.
Harden, even with a cold shooting night, drew enough defensive attention to open up opportunities for others. Kobe Sanders took full advantage-attacking from the strong-side corner for a dunk after a defensive lapse from Toronto.
By the end of the first quarter, the Raptors’ lead had shrunk to just eight, and the momentum was shifting.
That shift turned into a full-on swing after halftime. LA opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run, seizing the lead and flipping the pressure back onto Toronto.
Even without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup, the Clippers tightened the screws defensively. Every Raptors drive was met with a collapsed paint, and Brandon Ingram found little room to operate in his usual mid-range spots.
Harden, despite his struggles from the field, never lost his rhythm. He kept firing and directing traffic, and his persistence helped LA build their lead. It wasn’t until a timely three from Ingram and a strong finish by Sandro Mamukelashvili-who powered through contact for a floater and then scored again inside-that Toronto managed to tie things up at 68.
From there, Mamu went on a personal run, getting into the lane off a Shead dish and finishing around Ivica Zubac. Then Gradey Dick stepped up and delivered back-to-back threes, extending the Raptors’ lead and injecting some much-needed energy into the offense.
Dick’s performance was one of the night’s bright spots. Trusted with meaningful minutes down the stretch, he delivered with hustle, awareness, and a highlight lob to Ingram in transition that showed his growing feel for the moment.
This one turned into a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading punches deep into the fourth quarter. But when it came time to close, the Clippers had the edge-and his name was James Harden.
Harden’s approach in crunch time was textbook. Isolate, read the defense, and make the right play-whether that meant attacking for a bucket, pulling up for a jumper, or baiting defenders into fouls.
His pick-and-roll game was surgical. Time and again, he’d force a rotation from the weak side, then swing the ball to the open shooter in the corner.
It wasn’t flashy-it was just smart, efficient basketball from a player who’s been here more times than he can count.
Toronto, on the other hand, struggled to match that level of execution. Ingram, in particular, had a tough time navigating the defense late.
When the Clippers sent help from the nail, he often forced contested shots instead of resetting the play. His vision just wasn’t sharp enough to punish the doubles, and that allowed LA to get away with sending extra defenders his way.
It would be unfair to pin the loss solely on him, but in a game that demanded precision down the stretch, his decisions came up short.
Defensively, Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles continued to show their value as small-ball bigs. They battled hard against Zubac and had some standout moments contesting shots and switching across positions.
But at the end of the day, there’s only so much two undersized defenders can do against a true seven-footer with soft hands and a strong base. Zubac’s size eventually won out in key moments.
And then, Harden took over. When he got the matchup he wanted-whether it was Agbaji, Shead, or anyone else-he attacked decisively.
If Toronto tried to switch Barnes onto him, Harden simply called for a screen, got the switch, and went to work. His final dagger came in overtime: a smooth mid-range jumper over Barnes to put the Clippers up by three.
Vintage Harden.
It was a hard-fought game, and Toronto showed plenty of heart. But in the end, they ran into one of the greatest offensive minds the game has ever seen-and he made them pay.
Next up, the Raptors head west to face Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers. The road doesn’t get any easier from here.