TORONTO – It’s finally time for the Toronto Raptors to rest.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic told his players to rest as much as they’ll before their next practice on Friday after playing in seven games over 11 days where Toronto went 1-6. The last loss is perhaps probably the most painful as Jalen Brunson had 35 points because the Latest York Knicks routed the undermanned Raptors 117-101 on Tuesday in an Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal.
“Really vital simply to reset the mind, reset the body,” said Brandon Ingram, who led Toronto with 31 points against Latest York, including 17 in the primary quarter.
“Take a look at these first 25, 26 games and see what we’ve done well, what we haven’t done so well, and just try to regulate and address it and check out to be higher at it.”
The Raptors’ next game can be against the Miami Heat on Monday, giving them a full five days off after that hectic 11-day stretch.
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Rest may also be critical for point guard Immanuel Quickley and swingman RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont.
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Each starters missed the Raptors’ first-ever knockout game of the NBA Cup. Quickley was out with an undisclosed illness and Barrett continues to get better from a sprained right knee.
“Seven game in 11 days. We definitely need it. We’d like to get healthy,” said point guard Jamal Shead after a career-high 18 points starting rather than Quickley. “RJ, Quick, just our entire team, we just need our bodies to get right.”
Ingram also had seven assists and 6 rebounds as Toronto (15-11) dropped its fourth game in a row. Scottie Barnes added 13 points, five rebounds and 4 assists.
Shead, who had been listed as questionable with a right quad contusion, had eight assists and three rebounds. Ochai Agbaji had three points rather than Barrett.
Toronto’s lack of depth was exposed by the Knicks’ defence, with several Raptors bench players left scoreless.
Rajakovic has said throughout the season that each loss is a chance to learn. He, Ingram and Shead all looked as if it would take the NBA Cup quarterfinal loss in stride when speaking with media post-game.
“It is tough (for young players to tackle latest roles) but that’s the job, you already know,” said Rajakovic. “I feel it’s a terrific learning opportunity for all of them.
“I believed that our spirit was great. I believed that we competed the entire game. We just played against a greater team tonight.”
Ingram echoed Rajakovic’s sentiments, but checked out the season as a complete.
“One big lesson that I take away from the course of the season is we now have little margin for error, especially when we now have guys out and in of the lineup,” he said. “We’ve had (Jakob Poeltl) out of the lineup. We’ve had RJ out of the lineup. We had Quick out of the lineup today.
“In order guys are available and step up, we now have just somewhat margin for error in games especially after we play really, really good teams.”
Karl-Anthony Towns, who was a game-time decision, had a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds as Latest York (17-7) won its fourth straight.
Latest York advances to Las Vegas where it would face the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press