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'All the work that we've been putting in is just showing.'
Published Nov 21, 2025 • 3 minute read
BKN-Wizards-Raptors 20251121
Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) dunks against the Washington Wizards during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto, on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Photo by Sammy Kogan /The Canadian Press
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It’s been a long time since Toronto Raptors fans were able to watch meaningful basketball, but those days have returned,
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Only the most seasoned of NBA observers might know the ins and outs of the NBA Cup, which is now in its third year of existence, but the key point to grasp these days for Toronto supporters is that the team is in the mix for the first time.
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A 140-110 beatdown over the visiting and truly awful Washington Wizards Friday, along with a Cleveland win over Indiana gave the Raptors a first place finish in East Group A and made them the first team to advance in the NBA Cup this season with a 3-0 record. Though Milwaukee, Detroit and Orlando can match Toronto at 3-0 after games early next week, point differential matters and Toronto is way out in front there, meaning the win or go home game likely will be played at Scotiabank Arena either on December 9 or 10.
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For a franchise that’s gone 55-109 over the last two seasons and was .500 the year prior, an 11-5 start to the season (tied for the fourth-best mark through 16 games in Toronto’s 31-season history) and advancing at the NBA Cup are notable and welcomed developments.
“It’s been fun so far. Everybody’s enjoying it and playing well, playing together,” RJ Barrett told Postmedia after matching Brandon Ingram’s game-high 24 points against the Wizards. “All the work that we’ve been putting in is just showing.”
Barrett said being healthy has been huge for the Raptors, along with a strong team culture.
“We’ve been saying it for a while, like, defence, we play hard, we play together. So now you’re kind of, kind of seeing the fruits. We’re out there. We’re consistent, and that’s what you need,” he said.
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Head coach Darko Rajakovic concurred and can now look ahead to advancing on at the NBA Cup, perhaps as far as Las Vegas. I think it’s awesome,” Rajakovic said. “I think our guys deserve the opportunity to compete in that setup. It’s going to be really different feeling for us, because it’s going to be one game that can decide, are you going to final four or not? Definitely, we do have a vision and a desire to be there,” he said.
Backup point guard Jamal Shead has only been around Toronto for one season plus a month, but knows what having a good team means for supporters.
“These fans deserve it,” Shead told Postmedia. “Last year, you know, we weren’t the best team, and every single game was still sold out. Every day, every crowd was awesome. Every time that we were in a game, they were right there with us. So I think they deserve it more than anything. And I think it’s just important that we all feel like they deserve it and we want to win for them.”
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They also want to win and advance for each other. As Barrett pointed out, there are monetary rewards associated with doing well in the tournament and some Raptors can really use a bit extra.
“Man (NBA Cup is) cool, especially for, you know, not everybody makes the same amount of money, it’ll mean something to everybody, but there’s definitely some guys that you know it would mean a little more for them,” Barrett explained.
Just making it this far has earned each Raptor a bit over $50,000 U.S. extra and another win would about double the amount and getting to the final would roughly double it again. Winning the NBA Cup would net each Raptor over half a million in bonuses.
“Job ain’t done,” said backup big man Sandro Mamukelashvili. “Just got to go out there and get to Vegas somehow.”
The semi-finals will be held on Dec. 13 and the final on Dec. 16.
@WolstatSun
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