The Toronto Raptors are finding themselves slipping in the Eastern Conference standings, struggling to keep pace with the top contenders. Their recent 120-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns is a stark reminder of the challenges they face. It’s particularly concerning given that the Suns were on the second night of a back-to-back, yet the Raptors couldn’t capitalize, even with the home-court advantage at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Sunday's performance was lackluster across the board. Brandon Ingram, a key player, managed only six points on 3-10 shooting.
Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett also had off nights, scoring 11 and 13 points, respectively. However, the spotlight is on backup point guard Jamal Shead, whose struggles have become a worrying trend for the Raptors.
Scottie Barnes on Jamal Shead’s offensive struggles lately, and what he would tell Jamal:
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) March 23, 2026
“Just keep being aggressive. Our team, we believe in him.”
“He’ll find it. Got to trust in him.” pic.twitter.com/Ak5c2ujb1a
Throughout March, Shead’s performance has dipped, averaging just 3.3 points on 27.3 percent shooting. Despite these numbers, Scottie Barnes remains supportive of his teammate. In a postgame interview, Barnes emphasized the team’s belief in Shead's abilities.
“Just keep being aggressive. Our team believes 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 play defense. I think that's what our focus is on,” Barnes expressed confidently.
“He’ll find it. Got to trust in him.”
Shead has been integral to the Raptors' efforts this season, and it’s crucial not to lose faith in him during this rough patch. With Toronto teetering on the edge of the play-in tournament, there’s an urgency for Shead and the rest of the team to find their rhythm and bounce back swiftly.