TORONTO – Scottie Barnes had his 28th double-double of the season as the Toronto Raptors routed the Orlando Magic 139-87 on Sunday.

Barnes had 23 points and a career-high 15 assists as Toronto (42-32) earned a crucial win in the Eastern Conference standings.

Jamal Shead also had a double-double for the Raptors with 12 points and 10 assists. RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 24 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili came off the bench for 19.

Brandon Ingram (heal), Immanuel Quickley (right foot plantar fasciitis) and Collin Murray-Boyles (lower back spasms) all sat out the game for Toronto.

Desmond Bane led Orlando (39-35) with 17 points and Jalen Suggs added 13 in a flat effort from the visitors.

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The Raptors are guaranteed to play at least one game once the regular season is over thanks to the Milwaukee Bucks’ 127-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. That eliminated Milwaukee from the post-season and ensured that Toronto would reach either the play-in tournament or the playoffs.

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TAKEAWAYS

Magic: Trailing by as many as 56 points, a lot went wrong for Orlando in a game where a win would have considerably helped their seeding hopes. Most notably, the Magic bench was outscored 58-32 and Toronto had 39 fast-break points to Orlando’s seven.

Raptors: Barnes is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Not only did he set a new personal best for assists in a game, but Sunday’s lopsided victory was his fourth consecutive game with 10 or more assists. Barnes also had three steals in the game, giving him 102 on the season and 109 blocks. He’s the first player in the NBA to have more than 100 steals and blocks this season.

KEY MOMENT

The Magic led by seven points early in the first quarter, but then the Raptors closed the period on a 31-0 run, holding Orlando scoreless for the final 5:30 of the first and first 2:18 of the second. Toronto led 70-43 at halftime.

KEY STAT

That 31-0 stretch was the largest unanswered scoring run by a team in the 30 seasons that the NBA has tracked play-by-play data. The previous record was the Dallas Mavericks’ 30-0 run against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 2, 2023.

UP NEXT

Magic: Host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Raptors: Visit the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Match 29, 2026.

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TORONTO – Scottie Barnes is, theoretically, a power forward. But 73 games into the Toronto Raptors season, he’s played extended time at every position.

Against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday it was time to play point guard with regular starter Immanuel Quickley out with plantar facitiis in his right foot. Barnes excelled in the role with 23 points, 12 assists and six rebounds as Toronto rolled to a 119-106 victory.

“I’m just waiting for the day when Scottie is gonna tell me, ‘Coach, this is too much I’ve been asking you to do,’” joked Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. “Play three, play four, play point guard, play five.

“Go guard the point guard, go guard the five. He’s just going to do everything that he needs to do to help our team and to win the game.”

Barnes had more than 10 assists for a third consecutive game, a career high. It was also his career-best 27th double-double of the season, surpassing the 26 he had last campaign.

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“It doesn’t matter where I need to be on the floor, I’m just going to try and do what I can to try and win the game,” said Barnes. “Whatever it is, starting point guard, guarding the five, playing point, playing forward.”

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The two-time all star also had two steals and three blocks in 36:29 of playing time as Rajakovic rested all of his starters with a little over two minutes left to play.

Rajakovic said that although the six-foot-eight Barnes’s size makes him a forward, he’s got a playmaker’s instincts.

“He’s a pass-first player. He likes to move, to pass, he likes to find his teammates. He is exceptional in transition,” said Rajakovic. “We were getting stops early in the game, and he was really pushing the ball in transition and all he does is scanning the floor.

“It really allows him, with his size and his athletic ability, to play over the top of the defence.”

Second-year player Ja’Kobe Walter started in Quickley’s place. He was one of four Raptors who scored 18 points, and he doled out four assists with Barnes bearing the playmaking load.

Both Barnes and Rajakovic had high praise for Walter’s efforts.

“His shooting is just something that we need on our team,” said Barnes of Walter, who went 6-for-14 on field-goal attempts and 4-for-10 on three-pointers. “He’s been on fire. Every shot he takes it looks like it’s going in.

“Sometimes we get in these situations where we’re not making shots, but we can count on him to be able to play defence and make shots.”

Rajakovic said that Walter has been making an impact for the Raptors in two ways.

“He did a really good job defensively, pressuring the ball. He really set a tone on (Pelicans guard) Jeremiah Fears tonight and he’s shooting the ball really well,” said Rajakovic. “He’s good out there for us and the whole team trusts him.

“He plays so hard so there is not much you can object to when he plays that hard.”

Rookie centre Collin Murray-Boyles left the game early with back spasms. He finished with nine points and two rebounds.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2026.

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TORONTO – Scottie Barnes had a double-double as the Toronto Raptors routed the New Orleans Pelicans 119-106 on Friday.

Barnes had 23 points, 12 assists and six rebounds for Toronto (41-32). Jakob Poeltl also had a double-double with 18 points and 11 boards.

Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley missed the game as he recovers from plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Ja’Kobe Walter started in his stead but Barnes was Toronto’s de facto playmaker. Walter was one of four Toronto players to finish with 18 points.

Zion Williamson had 22 points and added seven rebounds as New Orleans (25-50) lost its fourth straight.

Dejounte Murray (injury management) and Trey Murphy (ankle) sat out for the Pelicans. Murray had drawn the ire of Toronto fans on March 11 when he crossed up Jamal Shead and stood over the prone Raptors guard, shouting and flexing.

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The game’s tipoff was at 8:30 p.m. local time, an hour later than most Toronto home games as the Raptors had just returned from a lengthy West Coast road trip that ended with a 119-94 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles.

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“The trip from L.A., it’s really hard to do it right after the game,” said head coach Darko Rajakovic pre-game. “It would bring you home around 5, 6 in the morning, which is pretty late.

“So we decided to stay over to get some extra rest. (…) We just wanted to push a little bit to give our guys another hour of rest and sleep.”

Takeaways

Pelicans: Both teams struggled to shoot the three ball, but New Orleans was especially bad from beyond the arc. The Pelicans went 7-for-28 from with forward Saddiq Bey responsible for three of those threes.

Raptors: Barnes — who had played every position this season — had more than 10 assists for a third consecutive game, a career high. It was also his 27th double-double of the season, a career best, surpassing the 26 he had last campaign.

Key moment

Barnes stole the ball from Williamson with 2:17 left in the second, feeding Poeltl for a layup to cap a 12-0 Toronto run and a 21-point lead.

Key stat

The win, coupled with Atlanta’s 109-102 loss to the Boston Celtics, moved the Raptors into sole possession of fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks were half a game back of Toronto.

Up next

Toronto: Hosts the Orlando Magic on Sunday in a critical game for both teams vying for a playoff berth.

New Orleans: Hosts the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2026.

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TORONTO – It’s time for the Toronto Raptors to make their drive to the playoffs.

Brandon Ingram had a game-high 34 points as Toronto upset the Detroit Pistons 119-108 on Sunday, the Raptors second win in a row after a 122-115 victory over the Phoenix Suns two days earlier. Ingram, who compiled 70 points in the two wins, said Toronto’s improved play is right on schedule.

“I think it’s around that time for things to start clicking defensively, offensively,” said Ingram, acknowledging that the Raptors had lost four of their last five games. “We went through a little rough patch these previous games, but we found it.

“We had some conversations. Our communication on the floor has been good, and we’ve been able to fight back when we’ve been down and stay together. So, you know, it’s building.”

The win over Phoenix was the first piece of the foundation, as it was Toronto’s first victory over an opponent with a winning record since the Raptors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-101 on Jan. 25, a span of 19 games. The Detroit win improved the Raptors’ record against the top 10 teams in the NBA to 4-19.

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Ingram was asked if the two victories will quiet criticism of Toronto’s performance against contenders.

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“For sure, but outside noise is outside noise, whatever opinion they have about us, that’s cool,” said Ingram. “We continue to fight, try to be the best we can on every single time that we play and live with the result.”

The back-to-back wins moved the Raptors (38-29) back up to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings after a few days sitting seventh, atop the play-in bracket. Beating the first-place Pistons on Sunday put Toronto 10 games back of Detroit but, more importantly, half a game ahead of the Miami Heat.

“We really wanted to set the tone with our physicality, doesn’t matter who the opponent is,” said head coach Darko Rajakovic. “I have utmost respect for Detroit, I think they’re a championship-calibre team.

“You’ve got to set a tone, not to answer to what they do on the court.”

A major piece of Toronto’s brief resurgence is that RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., and Jakob Poeltl are both fully healthy again.

Barrett had 27 points and six rebounds against the Pistons, while Poeltl and Scottie Barnes each had a double-double.

Poeltl finished with 21 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, while Barnes added 14 points and pulled down 10 boards.

“Body felt really fresh. I don’t know it’s a long season, like sometimes you just wake up, you feel a little funky and other days you feel great,” said Poeltl, who has missed 35 games this season with a sore lower back. “It’s difficult to figure out why some days are just better than others.”

Barrett missed 15 games after he sprained his right knee in November. Rajakovic said now that Barrett’s healthy he can get more involved defensively.

“We’re preaching that to him there is no physical attribute that he does not have, that he’s not capable of guarding one through four of anybody in the league,” said Rajakovic. “He’s just having that grit and mindset of doing it over and over and over again.

“He showed us in moments that he is capable of doing it, but lately he’s doing it in much longer, periods of time, and that’s really helping the team to win.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 15, 2026.

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AJ Lawson couldn’t help himself when he stepped on Raptors 905’s new practice court.

Lawson, who is on a two-way contract that has him playing regularly for the G-League team in Mississauga, Ont., and the Toronto Raptors, its parent club, had to try every move he could think of on the 905’s new practice court at Paramount Fine Foods Centre.

“I tried to do some trick shots to be able to say I’m the first to ever do this on this court,” said Lawson on Friday. “But it never felt as good as when I dunked it, so I think it’s a good gym.”

Lawson and his 905 teammates have had a few practices at the new facility attached to their home arena — allowing him to break in the rims — but the practice court was formally unveiled in a ceremony attended by Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chief operating officer Nick Eaves and Raptors 905 vice-president Courtney Charles.

The brand new 16,000-square foot practice facility was built in a partnership between the City of Mississauga and MLSE, the owners of the Raptors and Raptors 905.

It features a full-sized court, including three baskets, revamped state-of-the-art locker rooms, a large fitness and training space, an extensive medical and rehabilitation area and a dining room and player lounge.

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Raptors 905 head coach Drew Jones said that the facility will help with his team’s mission of developing basketball talent for the NBA team.

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“It allows us to train with a great purpose and consistency,” said Jones. “In the G League, with the roster turnover and the travel, the level of consistency can vary tremendously.

“I think when you’re trying to grow and develop talent, one of the biggest things that the NBA is able to provide is a level of consistency in terms of the work, the atmosphere, the environment.”

Charles said that the facility’s best feature is that players and coaches can train whenever they want.

“When you have a space that you have access to for 24/7 you’re able to have times where you’re able to have one-on-ones with people while they work on free throws, while they work on dribbling, while they work on their game,” said Charles. “We’ve known that when our culture allows us to become a bit more human with someone, that there are the spaces that are comfortable for people, it’s a development opportunity.”

Raptors 905 are the first-ever G League team to have an exclusive NBA regulation basketball court built.

“That’s honestly amazing,” said Lawson. “It just shows that the 905 cares and they’re really putting the work in to help out whoever they can help, to help their players grow.”

Because of MLSE’s partnership with the City of Mississauga, the facility will be allocated to a number of basketball development camps and community groups both during the G League season and its off-season.

“Mississauga is a place that produces great players and coaches and is home to top-tier sport venues,” said Parrish in a statement. “Our long-standing partnership with Raptors 905 and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment allows us to continue to elevate the calibre of sport in Mississauga.

“This new gym is a big win for us and will benefit both Raptors 905 as their new practice facility while also offering access for residents.”

Lawson, who is from neighbouring Brampton, Ont., but went to high school in Mississauga, loved that local youth will benefit from the new facility.

“As a kid I felt I played more outdoors than indoors, because there wasn’t a lot of facilities I could go train,” he said, sitting at his locker at Scotiabank Arena. “Just the fact that there’s another place you can go train at for kids in Mississauga or the GTA is honestly great.

“They’re going to love it because it just gives them an extra sense of motivation. They can see the next step, like the 905, the NBA, all that’s right there in front of them.”

Saturday’s opening concluded with Raptors 905 players leading a basketball clinic featuring more than 50 children from the Erin Mills Youth Centre, the Mississauga Monarchs and PDM Basketball, who became the first community groups to play on the new practice court.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2026.

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TORONTO – Jalen Green drove to the net with 45 seconds left to play, going for a layup that would pull his Phoenix Suns to within two points of the Toronto Raptors.

But Scottie Barnes, making his case for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, followed Green to the rim and swatted the ball off the backboard. The block led to an RJ Barrett dunk at the other end of the court to put Toronto up 116-110.

Barrett had 22 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, as the Raptors rallied past Phoenix 122-115 on Friday. It was Toronto’s first victory over an opponent with a winning record since the Raptors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-101 on Jan. 25, a span of 19 games.

“That was insane, it was crazy. I was literally right there,” said Barrett of Barnes’s clutch block. “But those are the type of plays you need to win.

“Those are the type of plays that we haven’t been making lately, that we were making at the beginning of the season.”

Barrett, from Mississauga, Ont., also had six rebounds and five assists as Toronto (37-29) earned its fourth win in its last 10 games. The Raptors are seventh in the Eastern Conference, half a game back of the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, with 16 games left to play in the regular season.

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Toronto is 4-18 against the top 10 teams in the NBA this season. Phoenix (39-28) has the 11th best win percentage in the league.

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“In a lot of these games, we have fought and just come short and this game, I felt like we fought all night long and that’s the result,” said Barrett. “That’s just the intensity that we’ve got to have.

“I think we were locked in, and we’re very focused on the assignments and focus on what we needed to do tonight.”

All-star forward Brandon Ingram led all scorers with 36 points, including five three-pointers, and pulled down seven boards for the Raptors. Ingram had a total of 42 points over his last three games before Friday night’s offensive outburst.

Ingram, who missed most of last season with a left ankle sprain, played in his 64th game. In 10 NBA seasons, he’s only played in that many games twice before: his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016-17 he played in 79 and he appeared in 64 in 2023-24 with the New Orleans Pelicans.

“You know, I haven’t played 64 games in a season for a very long time. But also, players are going to go through a rough patch throughout the season,” said Ingram. “It’s not going to be perfect all the time, and it definitely hasn’t been perfect for me, but it’s important to keep going.

“I can’t let my teammates see me with my head down.”

Barnes finished with 14 points and six rebounds, even though he was battling an illness.

“Scottie is all about the team, all about winning. He’s going through pain. He’s going through sickness at this time,” said head coach Darko Rajakovic. “He showed up big. He showed up to the game to try to give everything he’s got.

“He completely emptied the tank today to try to help the team.”

Rajakovic said the Raptors had a team meeting after Wednesday night’s 122-111 loss in New Orleans.

In the dying minutes of that game, Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray stood over Toronto reserve guard Jamal Shead, shouting at him, after nailing a three-pointer despite the Raptor player’s tight defence.

Only Toronto guard Immanuel Quickley seemed to stand up for the prone Shead, jogging over to Murray and confronting him.

Barrett was asked if the victory over the Suns meant more given that scene in the previous game.

“It’s a big time, big time win for us. We’ve hit a little rough patch, and wins like that are what we’ve got to do: scratch, claw, fight and get those wins,” said Barrett, who wasn’t on the floor when Murray flexed over Shead. “That’s who we are. It’s good to play like that and just remember what we’re capable of doing and going out there and getting the win.

“So proud of how the team played. Everybody came in, contributed, played well, so it’s a good one for us.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2026.

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TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors say they aren’t going to let another team disrespect one of their players again.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic said the Raptors had a team meeting after New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray stood over Jamal Shead, shouting at him, in the final minutes of Toronto’s 122-111 loss on Wednesday. Murray earned a technical foul on the play but his three-pointer gave New Orleans an 18-point lead.

“After watching the film, I thought that we did not handle that situation the way we want, that we were supposed to,” Rajakovic said before Friday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. “Our players, they had conversations with each other. They know that that was not the true picture and image of our team.

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“They all agreed, they know that it’s never going to happen again.”

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Shead was playing tight, physical defence against Murray with a little over 90 seconds left in the game. Murray got a step on Shead and launched his three-point attempt as the Raptors guard fell to the court trying to catch up.

After Murray swished the ball, he loomed over the prone Shead. Pelicans forward Herbert Jones and centre Yves Missi came over to the celebrating Murray, with Jones chest bumping him and then shoving him back to the New Orleans bench as the referee teed him up.

Only Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley seemed to stand up for Shead, jogging over to Jones and confronting him. Officials then separated Quickley and Murray.

Rajakovic was asked how he would have liked the players on the court, including all-stars Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, to react.

“There’s a way that you need to stand up for each other and protect each other, and this team that we have is all about that and all about connectivity, and it needs to be addressed the right way,” said Rajakovic.

Quickley said that it’s “very important” for teammates to stick up for each other.

“We’re all like brothers in here,” said Quickley, sitting at his locker at Scotiabank Arena. “Probably spend more time in here with these guys, than most of my actual family, so it’s always important to have each other’s back.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2026.

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