Raptors Bounce Back with Dominant Win Over Trail Blazers
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors snapped a two-game losing streak with a decisive victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night, showcasing improved offensive efficiency after a challenging stretch without key starter RJ Barrett. The win provides a much-needed boost as the team navigates Barrett’s recovery and prepares for the upcoming NBA Cup quarterfinals.
The Raptors’ offensive struggles were especially evident in the four games Barrett missed prior to Tuesday, where they posted a league-worst offensive rating of 102.7 – a significant drop from their season average of 116.1. Barrett suffered a sprained knee during a win against the Washington Wizards a week ago Sunday, initially diagnosed with no structural damage.Though, his return timeline remains uncertain.
“RJ is improving,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. “He’s still not taking any participation in team activities. He’s recovering and improving.”
Rajakovic indicated that barrett’s availability for the December 9th NBA Cup quarterfinal against his former team, the New York Knicks, is contingent on his ability to participate in three to five days of live workouts.
In barrett’s absence, second-year wing Ja’Kobe Walter has stepped into the starting lineup and embraced challenging defensive assignments. Rajakovic praised Walter’s performance, specifically highlighting his matchups against Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson.
“I thought that Ja’Kobe did a really good job against Donovan Mitchell, guarding him. That was his matchup. The other night in New York, he guarded (Jalen) Brunson as a primary matchup,” Rajakovic said. “Brunson was good in that game, but he was still shooting 6-for-19 from the field. Any prospect a player who is 20 years old gets to play against those types of players, it’s an amazing learning opportunity. What Ja’Kobe is doing really good after each of those games is he goes back, he’s analyzing, he’s watching film with coaches as well and trying to figure out what the areas are, how to figure out those players and how to be even better next time.”
The Raptors will continue to monitor Barrett’s progress while relying on contributions from players like Walter as they aim to build momentum heading into the playoffs. Rajakovic emphasized Barrett’s importance to the team’s success.
“He’s a big part of what we do,” said Rajakovic. “He’s elite in transition. He’s elite in creating his own shot.He’s also a playmaker. He’s averaging 20 points a game. Definitely, you’re going to feel that.”
