Raptors benefit from short-handed Hawks to start out 2026 with win

TORONTO — New 12 months, new alternative. 

The Toronto Raptors have a lot to construct on based mostly on how they closed out 2025. Sure, they might get to April and look again at current losses to the Washington Wizards or — on New Year’s Eve — to the Denver Nuggets once they had been down 4 starters and really feel some regrets. 

For as encouraging because the 20-15 mark they introduced into 2026 was, it’s hardly a begin that ensures something. 

Before the Raptors hosted the Atlanta Hawks for the primary of two residence video games Saturday, they might consolation themselves by noting that even after posting a 6-8 document in December (after a 12-3 November), they had been nonetheless in fourth place within the Eastern Conference. 

But not all standings are created equal. The Raptors had been solely 2.5 video games forward of the ninth-place Chicago Bulls and three.5 video games forward of the Tenth-place Hawks. 

It’s nonetheless a great place to be in, significantly given the Raptors had been 8-27 at this level final season. 

But nothing could be taken with no consideration. 

On Saturday, the Raptors had been taking part in the primary of their 15 video games in 27 days this month, with 9 of them on the street. 

It’s not a assassin’s row of opponents. According to John Schumann of NBA.com, the Raptors’ schedule for January charges seventeenth by way of problem, with their opponents having an collected profitable share of .494. 

And to their profit, they’ve a league-high (in line with Schuman) 5 video games during which they’ve a “rest advantage.” Games the place they’re taking part in an opponent that’s on the second evening of a back-to-back. 

Needless to say, if Toronto goes to get to February nonetheless holding onto a high 4 seed within the East — or no less than a playoff spot — it’s going to must squeeze each benefit it might probably.

Such as, for instance, a house recreation after two days of relaxation towards a Hawks crew that was taking part in on the second evening of a back-to-back and with out Kristaps Porzingis or Trae Young. Porzingis’ sturdiness points aren’t new, and whether or not the Hawks are higher or worse with their four-time all-star level guard is within the line-up (they had been 2-8 with him sidelined earlier than Saturday), is up for debate.

But a drained street crew down two proficient gamers ought to play into the house crew’s fingers. 

Well, by means of three quarters it seemed just like the Raptors had been in peril of fumbling a schedule present, the type of mistake that good groups don’t make. 

But one thing clicked within the fourth. The Raptors tapped out of the fun-to-watch-as-long-as-you’re-not-coaching recreation of glorified pick-up, the place the 2 groups scored 213 factors on 55 per cent taking pictures mixed, and had been rewarded with a 134-117 blowout win in a recreation they solely led by one beginning the fourth.

The key was defensive effort and execution. 

Toronto compelled three turnovers within the first minute of the fourth and held Atlanta with no level for the primary 5:11 of the interval. By then, the Raptors led by 17, and the Hawks couldn’t make up the hole, ending with simply 11 factors on 4-of-19 taking pictures with eight of their 16 turnovers for the sport. 

Meanwhile, the Raptors’ offence continued to chug alongside, with RJ Barrett — in his third recreation again after lacking 5 weeks with a knee damage — scoring 12 of his 29 factors down the stretch, together with a pair of threes and a lay-up in transition within the area of two minutes that pushed the Raptors result in 15.

The Raptors shot 53.3 per cent from the ground for the sport, 12-of-21 from three and made 24 of their 26 free throws too.

As for Barrett, it was not solely his greatest offensive exhibiting since his damage however his highest level complete of the 12 months. But he mentioned it was the defence that made it occur. 

“I think I kind of got lost in the game. Not just the game, but the fourth quarter,” mentioned Barrett, who was 11-of-19 from the ground, together with 4-of-8 from three. “That’s really what it was. Going back and forth, scoring. All right. But nobody’s playing defence. That fourth quarter, that’s Raptors basketball. So that felt good to be a part of, you know, being on the court for that. Like, that’s who we are, that’s who we need to be.”

The Raptors’ season will doubtless hinge on how shut and the way typically they’ll play to their identification as a ball-hawking, transition-based crew. It’s what drives their offence and compensates for his or her lack of conventional paint presence on defence — particularly when Jakob Poeltl stays out along with his again issues. 

The extra they play that method, the extra doubtless they’re to uphold their standing because the shock crew within the Eastern Conference. 

It means the type of effort they obtained Saturday from Brandon Ingram — who stored the Raptors afloat for the primary three quarters when he scored 27 of his 29 factors on a gentle provide of increasingly troublesome mid-range jumpers over helpless Hawks defenders, punctuated with the odd pump pretend, drive and dunk — didn’t go to waste.

It was Ingram’s mid-range shot-making that carried the Raptors’ offence for the primary three quarters earlier than the defence supplied the spark vital. The Raptors led after the primary quarter and at half time, however the basket buying and selling technique got here again to hang-out them within the third quarter when Canadian nationwide crew star Nickeil Alexander-Walker placed on a present in his hometown by placing up 13 of his game-high 31 factors, becoming a member of his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (twice) as one in every of 5 Canadians to place up 30 or extra in Toronto, together with Barrett, Shaedon Sharpe and Rick Fox. 

It was enjoyable to look at, but it surely’s no method for a critical basketball crew to reside, particularly when rested and internet hosting a short-handed crew on a back-to-back. 

“This is going to be very interesting (game) film,” mentioned Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. “Because we had one quarter where we were allowed 41 points (the second, when the Raptors scored 42) and one where we allowed 11 points (the fourth).  And that comparison is going to be very daring for us. We need to look at it and really try to understand what it takes to win an NBA game and win against a really good team.”

We’ll see how deeply the teachings resonate on Monday when the Raptors host the Hawks once more and all through the month as issues get more durable nonetheless. 

Alexander-Walker’s management: It’s not even been half a season, however Alexander-Walker appears to have discovered a long-term residence after signing with the Hawks in free company. He’s delivered on the court docket, placing up 20.4 factors, greater than double his profession common, together with career-bests in assists (3.4) and steals (1.0), and has emerged as a veteran voice on a younger crew.

His message post-game was that for the Hawks to succeed in their appreciable potential, they should discover a option to handle video games on back-to-backs, particularly after coming off a formidable win over the New York Knicks on Friday. “It’s knowing when you’re on a back-to-back, there are small things that have to be done to prevent ourselves from hurting ourselves the way we did. They turned defence to offence just like that, especially off turnovers … we’re growing as a young team making sure we can handle the things we can control …” 

Happy New Year: Sandro Mamukelashvili has been one of many Raptors’ most constant performers this season. Which is why his no-show on New Year’s Eve — scoreless on 5 photographs in 12 minutes on an evening the Raptors wanted somebody to point out up from their bench — was virtually surprising. Rajakovic mentioned a part of the issue with the good-natured Georgian is that “he is an outstanding human being,” and that he cares virtually an excessive amount of and may get too exhausting on himself.

Mamukelashvili accepted the premise: “I am very hard on myself because I really want to win, and I want to be a player that helps the team win. So (losing to the Nuggets) was definitely tough, especially going into the new year. But I was kind of telling myself I was going to leave that in 2025.”  

He did simply that on Saturday, coming off the bench for 13 factors whereas grabbing 12 rebounds and a career-best eight assists to complete a game-high plus-27.

Being a rookie isn’t simple: twice within the first quarter, Hawks teen Asa Newell obtained caught out when extra skilled gamers manufactured fouls on him. The first was when Barrett discovered himself stymied towards him within the submit. When Newall reached in, Barrett squeezed the rookie’s left arm underneath his personal left arm, pivoted exhausting to his proper and put up a shot that had little probability of entering into however had the impact of wanting like Newell was impeding him.

Barrett obtained the decision and will barely disguise his smirk as he went to the road. Later within the quarter in was Scottie Barnes who was in a good spot within the paint. Without a clear look, Barnes pivoted, pumped faked after which stepped into Newell’s physique. As quickly as Newell’s arms got here down, Barnes introduced the ball up, and Newell was whistled once more on a play the place the particular person he was defending had no actual shot and no actual intention of taking pictures however was capable of get himself to the free-throw line.