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Toronto's 1-2 road trip began with a discouraging loss in Brooklyn
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Published Dec 26, 2025 • Last updated 3 minutes ago • 4 minute read
Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley passes the ball against Washington Wizards forward Khris Middleton during the first half on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, in Washington. Photo by Nick Wass /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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When they last hooked up, the Raptors beat Washington by 30 points when the Wizards were in Toronto.
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Roughly one month later, the teams met in Washington on Boxing Day.
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The way the Wizards had built an insurmountable advantage in the fourth quarter, it was hard to glean whether Washington was this good or perhaps the Raptors took their five-win opponents for granted.
As always, the answer is somewhere in the middle, but on this night it would be easy to lean Washington’s way.
Credit Washington for jumping on the Raptors in the opening quarter and exposing Toronto’s soft underbelly.
When the visitors mounted so little resistance, the Wizards kept up their onslaught.
Defensively, the Raptors were hideous to the point of pathetic.
Offensively, the Wizards played with an air of confidence to make one wonder why only a handful of games had been posted.
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Naturally, their confidence was fueled by Toronto’s indifference and cavalier approach.
A sure sign that a game is totally out of reach is when veteran Garrett Temple enters the game.
Excuses are for the losers and the Raptors, who were forced to deal with mechanical issues on their charter to the Big Apple, ended up as losers on this road trip.
Not good for a Raptors team whose schedule turns much tougher.
In Toronto, the Raptors hung 140 points against the Wizards.
In the return game, Washington lit it up en route to a convincing and rather easy 138-117 win.
The following are three takeaways from a 1-2 road trip that began with a discouraging loss in Brooklyn, capped off by a brutal defeat at Capital One Arena:
1. Hip Hop
Scottie Barnes limped off the floor late in the third quarter because of left hip soreness.
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With Kyshawn George imposing his will on the offensive end in the opening half, the Raptors had Barnes defend George, an emerging talent who shows no hesitation when looking for his offence.
Barnes had one of his best games in Miami on Tuesday night, two nights after Barnes had one of his worst games in a road loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
When fully engaged, Barnes attacks the rim and has shown a penchant for finishing with his left or non-shooting hand.
Minutes after he returned, Barnes flushed home a left-handed dunk.
He then showed his frustration thinking he was fouled and should have gone to the line.
Barnes’ ability to draw defenders when he uses the dribble was showcased as well.
Toronto’s second unit was a bit depleted in the wake of rookie Collin Murray-Boyles (illness) being active.
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Toronto’s starting unit was once again down two players.
Besides Poeltl, RJ Barrett (knee) also missed Friday night’s tip.
Brandon Ingram can do only so much.
While it’s true he can carry the Raptors, he needs help.
Barnes needed to be better.
His minus-29 rating told the story of this lost evening.
George, by the way, had 23 points in the win after he poured in 18 in the opening half.
2. Mamu Matters
The impact Sandro Mamukelashvili has had on the Raptors cannot be overstated.
Prior to his run with Toronto, the native of Georgia could be best described as an NBA journeyman.
The way he’s been playing, the way he’s stepped up to give the Raptors some kind of a size presence, and one is left to wonder why he wasn’t as coveted this past off-season.
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The allure of playing time is always appealing.
Outside of Jakob Poeltl, whose wonky back once again made him inactive, Mamukelashvili is the only size available to the Raptors.
Once again, he started.
His shot is very fluid.
Equally smooth is when Mamukelashvili take his defender off the dribble.
Jonathan Mogbo was active, but the kid has yet to show the potential he displayed during his rookie season last year.
Fortunately, there’s the G League for someone of Mogbo’s ilk to work on his game.
Based on Friday’s pathetic effort, most of the Raptors should be assigned to the team’s G League affiliate in Mississauga.
3. Grading Gradey
What to make of third-year wing Gradey Dick will require much more of a run for someone who is at his offensive best when he’s running the floor and heaving shots with conviction and confidence.
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As his defining moment awaits, Dick needs to bring an overall game he showed in the opening half against the Wizards.
The best thing about Dick was he did not allow an 0-for-3 shooting performance deter from his activity.
In 11 minutes, three rebounds were recorded and two assists produced to complement the one steal and one block Dick posted.
Still, his biggest asset is Dick’s ability to shoot from behind the three-point arc.
His off-the-ball movement is not an issue, but the issue stems from the Raptors’ inability to put Dick in the right position.
Remember, on a team short on shooters, Dick is one of the few, assuming he’s draining shots, who can spread the floor.
He missed his first four shots from the field.
On this night, Toronto’s best reserve was Ja’Kobe Walter, who never, it seemed, missed a shot.
The Raptors’ bench wasn’t good overall, but neither was the team’s starters.
Up Next
Raptors are back home to begin a five-game stay beginning with a Sunday afternoon visit by the Golden State Warriors, the first of a back-to-back set that will see Toronto play host to the Orlando Magic Monday night. In their most recent home tip, the Raptors were underwhelming, to say the least, against an undermanned Boston Celtics team that won its second game in as many appearances at Scotiabank Arena this season.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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