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Published Nov 07, 2025 • Last updated 5 minutes ago • 4 minute read
ingram raptors
Zaccharie Risacher of the Hawks loses the ball as he drives against Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of their NBA Cup game on November 07, 2025 in Atlanta. Photo by Kevin C. Cox /Getty Images
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Scottie Barnes didn’t record his first basket until 1:36 remained in the opening half and didn’t attempt his first free throw until 8:15 was left in the game.
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And while those two moments reflected Toronto’s offensive inefficiency and passivity for most of Friday night’s game in Atlanta, the Raptors’ compete level and some halftime adjustments made them disappear in a comeback 109-97 victory over the Hawks.
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This battle between two 1-0 NBA Cup teams had a playoff feel with the Raptors and Hawks fully aware the winner would be in the driver’s seat. Toronto’s remaining two NBA Cup opponents are Indiana and Washington, two winnable games.
In terms of competitive spirit, Friday night was the most intense game of the early season for the Raptors, who saved their best when the stakes were at their highest.
Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram and Barnes led a balanced attack that featured seven players in double-figure scoring, but every player who stepped on the floor contributed.
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The following are three takeaways on a night the Raps won their fourth game in a row to improve to 5-4.
PACE AND ENERGY REDISCOVERED
Lethargic would best describe how the Raptors started the game when too many turnovers were committed and their offence was non-existent.
But when they came out of the locker room to begin the second half, the Raptors were a completely different team. Their pace of play was decidedly quicker and their confidence was infinitely better when heaving shots.
Not surprisingly, a nine-point disadvantage at intermission would quickly diminish.
It then became an issue of whether the Raptors could sustain this style of play. But credit to the group from regrouping from a truly wretched second quarter.
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Toronto pulled to within four points of the Hawks after three quarters, then blew it open outscoring the hosts 36-20 in the fourth.
Ingram led the way points-wise with 20 for the Raptors, while Barrett had 19 and Quickley 18. Barnes finished with 14.
CENTRE OF ATTENTION
Given the fickle nature of back issues, no one expected Jakob Poeltl to match his best game of the season Tuesday night when the Raptors beat visiting Milwaukee.
But no one could have expected how little the big man would provide in the opening half Friday night.
Once again, Poeltl was foul prone. Even worse, he lost track of his man and would yield base-line cuts that led to uncontested baskets.
That’s why Sandro Mamukelashvili was summoned from the bench.
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Mamukelashvili did what he has done since he joined the Raptors in free agency, emerged as a presence, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes.
Poeltl came on in the second half and also finished with 12 points and 10 boards.
The two bigs are completely different players. Still, for the Raptors to contend for a top-six seed in the East, it’s incumbent on Poeltl to be on the floor and produce. Mamukelashvili is a decent backup, but he shouldn’t be given extended minutes because he’s limited defensively.
THE DICK DILEMMA
Gradey Dick is at his best when he’s given consistent minutes and allowed to play through mistakes.
His third season got off on the right foot when Dick poured in 21 points on opening night when the Raptors played a complete game in their win over the host Hawks.
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He hasn’t come close to his season-opening outburst, in part because the Raptors have yet to figure out how best to use him and when to use the wing players.
In some ways, he’s been lost in the roster shuffle.
With the Raptors mired in a shooting slump in the opening half, Dick’s ability to drain shots seemed to be the perfect elixir as the visitors managed only 44 points. Instead, he played just six minutes.
W
hen he re-entered Friday night’s game in the third quarter, Dick recorded a steal, but foolishly attacked the rim when he should have simply set up the offence.
He made amends by burying an open baseline three-pointer to cut Atlanta’s lead to two points.
At one point, the Raptors trailed by as many as 13 points. But Dick carried over his improved play from the third-quarter into the fourth en route to 11 points in 13 minutes.
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It was an important step in the right direction for Dick, who has reached double figures in scoring in back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Up Next
The Raptors’ five-game road trip will take the club to Philadelphia on Saturday night against a well-rested Sixers team, all but guaranteeing big man Joel Embiid’s availability … When they last played Wednesday, the Sixers gave up 132 points to Cleveland in a double-digit loss … Philly has lost two games in a row, both on the road … Embiid is on a minutes restriction to prevent his troublesome left knee from getting worse. He’s appeared in only four games so far, averaging 21 minutes.
fzicarelli@postmed hia.com
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