The Raptors faced a tough night with a 120-98 loss to the Suns, and it wasn't pretty for several key players. Brandon Ingram struggled, scoring just 6 points on 3-10 shooting, while also adding 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, and 5 turnovers.
Jakob Poeltl had a night to forget, failing to score or grab a rebound in 17 minutes of play. The bench didn't fare much better, with Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jamal Shead combining for a dismal 3-14 from the field and 0-8 from three-point range.
Ingram and Poeltl's performances were surprising, especially given their recent strong showings during the Raptors' winning streak. Meanwhile, Mamukelashvili and Shead have been in a slump, except for Shead's standout 17-point game against the Bulls.
Scottie Barnes, always the team player, offered some encouraging words following the loss. His optimism is something the Raptors will need if they're to make a serious playoff push. Reliable contributions from the bench are crucial, and Barnes seems confident in his teammates' abilities.
Reflecting on Shead, Barnes said, “We believe in him. He gets downhill and creates so much for us.
We know he’s going to be able to do that every single night. He’s going to come and play defense.
I think that’s what our focus is on. Shots go in, shots don’t go in, then I might just go back on the other end and get it back.
That’s his mentality. That’s our mentality as well.
He’ll find it.”
Barnes also expressed faith in Mamukelashvili, stating, “We know how important he is for our team, and just got to find him some rhythm. We know how important he is for our team with shooting the ball, stretching defenses out, being able to roll, transition.
He’s really great for us, and he’s a really good player. So, just keep reminding him of that.”
The Raptors are in dire need of 3-point shooting off the bench. While Shead and Mamukelashvili can contribute in various ways, it's their shooting that the team desperately requires.
Ingram and Immanuel Quickley are reliable from beyond the arc, hitting around 37%, but with RJ Barrett at 34.5% and Scottie Barnes at 29.4%, the starting lineup lacks consistent outside shooting. Poeltl, meanwhile, doesn't shoot threes at all.
Mamukelashvili has been a bright spot for most of the season, shooting over 37% from deep in every month except January. However, his shooting has dipped to 28.1% in March.
Shead hasn't been as consistent, but he did shoot 46.2% in October and around 33% in other months. This month, though, he's only made three shots from beyond the arc.
In the midst of these struggles, Ja’Kobe Walter has emerged as a potential solution. His recent performance, hitting 13 of 17 threes in his last five games, might just earn him a spot in Darko Rajakovic’s playoff rotation. The Raptors will need every bit of firepower they can muster as they look to bounce back and make a strong playoff run.