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Published Jan 19, 2026 • 5 minute read
Deandre Ayton of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks
Deandre Ayton of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against Collin Murray-Boyles of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Jan. 18, 2026 in Los Angeles. Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy /Getty Images
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Every visit to Madison Square Garden by every NBA team seems to always summon the very best from an opposing player.
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Los Angeles isn’t that far behind.
The legacy of the Lakers rivals noted adversary Boston.
There are big stages in the NBA with two of the biggest names suiting up for the host Lakers Sunday night in LeBron James and Luka Doncic, two mega stars whose availability wasn’t known until literally the minutes leading up to the opening tap.
Under such a backdrop, Raptors rookie Collin Murray-Boyles came of age, if he hasn’t already.
First time in L.A. and the first-year player led Toronto to its early game surge.
CMB was a beast, making shots, blocking shots, distributing, running the floor and playing with a zeal on both ends that makes one wonder if the Raptors should do all they can to keep the kid in the starting lineup.
Naturally, he lacks Jakob Poeltl’s size, but Toronto’s incumbent centre hasn’t been reliable as he continues to be sidelined with a back issue.
CMB doesn’t score in the way RJ Barrett can fill the net, but Barrett wasn’t available either Sunday as he continues to nurse an ankle issue.
CMB is a much better defender than Barrett.
There’s something about CMB’s game and the way he looks so comfortable being on the same floor as James and Doncic that it does inspire confidence moving forward.
Getting him extended minutes and finding creative ways to integrate CMB offensively are the next steps.
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Sunday marked the first game of Toronto’s five-game road trip that will end a week Sunday in Oklahoma City.
Once the Lakers recovered from the Raptors’ opening salvo, Toronto saw plenty of zone looks.
CMB is not a zone buster, but someone needs to step up from the perimeter knowing the best way to take advantage of a zone defence is to knock down shots.
Teams resort to zone defences when playing an opponent that can’t shoot.
The Raptors more than qualify.
For now, CMB is more of a spot-up shooter.
As he evolves, adding an off-the-dribble dimension will certainly help, not to mention adding his right hand when attacking the rim.
In 19 first-half minutes, CMB scored 11 points, hauled down seven rebounds, recorded four assists and blocked three shots, all on Doncic’s attempts, in one of his best stretches of the season.
Midway through the third quarter, Doncic struck CMB on his left thumb on an attempted steal attempt.
No foul was called.
CMB’s left thumb has been a source of irritation.
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He left the court and wouldn’t return because of a left thumb sprain.
His status for the balance of the trip is up in the air.
The following are three takeaways from a 110-93 Raptors’ loss, a night when the visitors couldn’t buy a basket from distance, a night when the trio of James, Doncic and Deandre Ayton combined for 74 points.
1. Darko Erupts
There’s something about L.A. and playing the Lakers that brings out the raw emotional side to Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic.
During his rookie season two years ago, Rajakovic lost it post-game, a tantrum that hit his pocket book.
Just to rewind quickly, the Raptors got virtually no calls in the fourth quarter that game, while the Lakers got every call in a close contest Toronto would lose
His post-game availability is remembered as the Rajakovic Rant.
Sunday, he blew his top when the whistle heavily favoured the Lakers.
He had enough and was called for a technical foul with 8:30 left in the second quarter.
His enraged face said it all.
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There was no point in sitting quietly on the bench, but at the same time Rajakovic should know by now that a team such as the Lakers with their star power will benefit from the whistle.
No one is saying it’s fair because it’s not, but that’s the playing field the Raptors find themselves.
It will change once the Raptors are consistently winning, playing with a style that never wavers and once the roster features stars.
With 4:48 left in the third quarter, Scottie Barnes also was assessed a technical foul when some contact near the rim went unnoticed.
The game officials clearly noticed his displeasure.
Equally noticeably was Barnes’ inability to make three-point shots.
2. B.I.’s L.A. Return
Brandon Ingram is an offensive star, but to suggest he’s a superstar would be a stretch.
He did begin his NBA career with the Lakers in 2019 when Ingram was selected second overall in the NBA draft.
His offensive versatility is Ingram’s biggest strength.
His basketball smarts do not get nearly as much attention as they should.
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On one sequence, he split a double team and recorded an assist.
The game’s flow was right up Ingram’s alley, teams wanting to play an uptempo style, teams moving the ball well, players running the floor purposefully.
The one knock against the Raptors in the opening half was their porous three-point shooting.
Ingram went 1-for-4 from distance as the Raptors went a combined 3-for-15.
And yet, the Lakers only led 55-54, in part because the Lakers were a minus-4 in the turnover differential.
L.A. was the superior team in the second half, and the final score reflected it.
3. I.Q.’s Return
Immanuel Quickley was back in the starting lineup after Toronto’s starting point guard missed the past two tips because of back spasms.
Quickley eased his way back into the flow and rhythm of a game.
Assertiveness was an issue in the first half when Quickley took only two shots in 15 minutes to score two points at the break.
He forced a shot early in the third quarter and then buried a corner three following a nice pass from CMB.
Quickley then scored on a pull-up jumper as his activity level was much improved as was his defence.
Up Next
Raptors continue their three-game stay in California by heading up the coast to play the host Golden State Warriors Tuesday night; when the two teams met in Toronto last month, the game required overtime in a thrilling game won by the Raptors.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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