Josh Lewenberg
@jlewenberg.bsky.social
Toronto Raptors NBA Beat Reporter @ TSN
The Raptors sent a message with their best and most dominant performance of the young season, their second win in Cleveland: they’re a dark horse team in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
November 14, 2025 at 3:26 AM
The Raptors sent a message with their best and most dominant performance of the young season, their second win in Cleveland: they’re a dark horse team in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
What a win. Cavs played last night but Mitchell/Mobley were rested. Barnes was brilliant. IQ stayed hot. Poeltl looked healthy and the bench delivered again, namely Shead and Mamu. Raptors have won 6 of 7 and close out their 5-game trip vs the 1-10 Pacers in Indy on Saturday.
November 14, 2025 at 2:30 AM
What a win. Cavs played last night but Mitchell/Mobley were rested. Barnes was brilliant. IQ stayed hot. Poeltl looked healthy and the bench delivered again, namely Shead and Mamu. Raptors have won 6 of 7 and close out their 5-game trip vs the 1-10 Pacers in Indy on Saturday.
Cavs at home to start the season:
vs the Raptors: 0-2
vs everybody else: 4-0
vs the Raptors: 0-2
vs everybody else: 4-0
November 14, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Cavs at home to start the season:
vs the Raptors: 0-2
vs everybody else: 4-0
vs the Raptors: 0-2
vs everybody else: 4-0
Scottie Barnes has multiple blocks in 5 of 6 games this month. He's blocked 5 shots twice during that stretch, including tonight. 17 blocks/10 steals in those 6 games.
He's been a 2-way beast tonight: 28 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, +18 in 35 minutes. One of his best games in recent memory.
He's been a 2-way beast tonight: 28 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, +18 in 35 minutes. One of his best games in recent memory.
November 14, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Scottie Barnes has multiple blocks in 5 of 6 games this month. He's blocked 5 shots twice during that stretch, including tonight. 17 blocks/10 steals in those 6 games.
He's been a 2-way beast tonight: 28 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, +18 in 35 minutes. One of his best games in recent memory.
He's been a 2-way beast tonight: 28 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, +18 in 35 minutes. One of his best games in recent memory.
Quickley and Poeltl continue to do their best work together.
IQ has scored 20+ in 3 straight games. He's shooting 28-for-46 over that stretch, including 10-13 FG and 5-7 3P tonight. He's got 25.
Jak tonight: 20 points on 7-10 FG in 29 mins. Looking healthy.
IQ has scored 20+ in 3 straight games. He's shooting 28-for-46 over that stretch, including 10-13 FG and 5-7 3P tonight. He's got 25.
Jak tonight: 20 points on 7-10 FG in 29 mins. Looking healthy.
November 14, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Quickley and Poeltl continue to do their best work together.
IQ has scored 20+ in 3 straight games. He's shooting 28-for-46 over that stretch, including 10-13 FG and 5-7 3P tonight. He's got 25.
Jak tonight: 20 points on 7-10 FG in 29 mins. Looking healthy.
IQ has scored 20+ in 3 straight games. He's shooting 28-for-46 over that stretch, including 10-13 FG and 5-7 3P tonight. He's got 25.
Jak tonight: 20 points on 7-10 FG in 29 mins. Looking healthy.
Poeltl from the free throw line over his first 7 games: 6-for-13
Poeltl from the free throw line tonight: 6-for-6
Poeltl from the free throw line tonight: 6-for-6
November 14, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Poeltl from the free throw line over his first 7 games: 6-for-13
Poeltl from the free throw line tonight: 6-for-6
Poeltl from the free throw line tonight: 6-for-6
Exhausted just watching Scottie tonight. He's everywhere.
November 14, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Exhausted just watching Scottie tonight. He's everywhere.
Reposted by Josh Lewenberg
I asked Darko about playing Shead and Quickley together before the game. Here's what he said.
November 14, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I asked Darko about playing Shead and Quickley together before the game. Here's what he said.
Most assists per 48 minutes (minimum 70 total minutes)
1. Nikola Jokic 15.4
2. LaMelo Ball 14.2
3. Jamal Shead 13.7
Shead came into tonight ranked 38th in total assists. He was the only player in the top-75 that had played fewer than 200 minutes.
1. Nikola Jokic 15.4
2. LaMelo Ball 14.2
3. Jamal Shead 13.7
Shead came into tonight ranked 38th in total assists. He was the only player in the top-75 that had played fewer than 200 minutes.
November 14, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Most assists per 48 minutes (minimum 70 total minutes)
1. Nikola Jokic 15.4
2. LaMelo Ball 14.2
3. Jamal Shead 13.7
Shead came into tonight ranked 38th in total assists. He was the only player in the top-75 that had played fewer than 200 minutes.
1. Nikola Jokic 15.4
2. LaMelo Ball 14.2
3. Jamal Shead 13.7
Shead came into tonight ranked 38th in total assists. He was the only player in the top-75 that had played fewer than 200 minutes.
24 minutes of strong point guard play.
Quickley and Shead in the 1st half: 19 points on 6-10 FG and 5-6 3P, 11 assists and 1 turnover, a +13 and +15 respectively.
Good on Darko for using them together in the backcourt to close the half. Hope we see more of it.
Quickley and Shead in the 1st half: 19 points on 6-10 FG and 5-6 3P, 11 assists and 1 turnover, a +13 and +15 respectively.
Good on Darko for using them together in the backcourt to close the half. Hope we see more of it.
November 14, 2025 at 1:12 AM
24 minutes of strong point guard play.
Quickley and Shead in the 1st half: 19 points on 6-10 FG and 5-6 3P, 11 assists and 1 turnover, a +13 and +15 respectively.
Good on Darko for using them together in the backcourt to close the half. Hope we see more of it.
Quickley and Shead in the 1st half: 19 points on 6-10 FG and 5-6 3P, 11 assists and 1 turnover, a +13 and +15 respectively.
Good on Darko for using them together in the backcourt to close the half. Hope we see more of it.
Tough couple games for RJ Barrett. A big reason for his hot start to the season: he was doing more with less, and as a result, his efficiency was through the roof. He's doing a bit too much right now.
November 14, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Tough couple games for RJ Barrett. A big reason for his hot start to the season: he was doing more with less, and as a result, his efficiency was through the roof. He's doing a bit too much right now.
Raptors' bench in the 1st quarter of the last 3 games: 44 points on 15-24 FG in 60 combined minutes.
The starters over that stretch: 56 points on 20-41 FG in 122 combined minutes.
The starters over that stretch: 56 points on 20-41 FG in 122 combined minutes.
November 14, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Raptors' bench in the 1st quarter of the last 3 games: 44 points on 15-24 FG in 60 combined minutes.
The starters over that stretch: 56 points on 20-41 FG in 122 combined minutes.
The starters over that stretch: 56 points on 20-41 FG in 122 combined minutes.
Couldn't tell you what the format is these days, but if Jamal Shead doesn't make the rookie-sophomore game at All-Star weekend, we riot.
November 14, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Couldn't tell you what the format is these days, but if Jamal Shead doesn't make the rookie-sophomore game at All-Star weekend, we riot.
Darko uses his 2nd unit differently than Dwane Casey did back in 2017-18, but this group reminds me of the Bench Mob in the way they come in and immediately change games with their energy (and push the starters to do the same). Big lift from those guys after (another) sluggish start.
November 14, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Darko uses his 2nd unit differently than Dwane Casey did back in 2017-18, but this group reminds me of the Bench Mob in the way they come in and immediately change games with their energy (and push the starters to do the same). Big lift from those guys after (another) sluggish start.
Donovan Mitchell has already drawn shooting fouls on RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick and Ja'Kobe Walter. It hasn't even been 5 minutes.
November 14, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Donovan Mitchell has already drawn shooting fouls on RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick and Ja'Kobe Walter. It hasn't even been 5 minutes.
In the so-called parity era, OKC may never lose again. They haven’t been close to full strength and it hasn’t mattered. Going into the season, I wondered: are they going to go all out and push for 70 wins or load manage/prioritize playoffs. They might do both. Crazy good team.
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 AM
In the so-called parity era, OKC may never lose again. They haven’t been close to full strength and it hasn’t mattered. Going into the season, I wondered: are they going to go all out and push for 70 wins or load manage/prioritize playoffs. They might do both. Crazy good team.
Collin Murray-Boyles has been added to the Raptors’ injury report with an illness - he’s questionable for tomorrow’s game in Cleveland. Mamu and Agbaji are also questionable. Mogbo is on G League assignment.
November 12, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Collin Murray-Boyles has been added to the Raptors’ injury report with an illness - he’s questionable for tomorrow’s game in Cleveland. Mamu and Agbaji are also questionable. Mogbo is on G League assignment.
Rule of thumb: if your new all-star format and selection process can't be explained in the length of a single (standard!) tweet then it's too convoluted and probably won't work. Appreciate that they're trying USA vs the World, but there has to be a simpler way to do this.
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Rule of thumb: if your new all-star format and selection process can't be explained in the length of a single (standard!) tweet then it's too convoluted and probably won't work. Appreciate that they're trying USA vs the World, but there has to be a simpler way to do this.
Immanuel Quickley's first 7 games: 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 39% FG, 28% 3P
Last 4 games: 19.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 47% FG, 42% 3P
Starting to heat up 🔥
Last 4 games: 19.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 47% FG, 42% 3P
Starting to heat up 🔥
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Immanuel Quickley's first 7 games: 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 39% FG, 28% 3P
Last 4 games: 19.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 47% FG, 42% 3P
Starting to heat up 🔥
Last 4 games: 19.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 47% FG, 42% 3P
Starting to heat up 🔥
Might be something to this theory, after all.
Poeltl in the 1st half of his last 2 games: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 0 blocks, 3 FGA in 27 minutes
Poeltl in the 2nd half: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 8 FGA in 29 minutes
Poeltl in the 1st half of his last 2 games: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 0 blocks, 3 FGA in 27 minutes
Poeltl in the 2nd half: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 8 FGA in 29 minutes
Poeltl didn't look right early in the Atlanta game before getting going in the second half. He hasn't played since then (Friday), so maybe he needs some time for his back to loosen up? Hope so. That first shift was rough.
November 12, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Might be something to this theory, after all.
Poeltl in the 1st half of his last 2 games: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 0 blocks, 3 FGA in 27 minutes
Poeltl in the 2nd half: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 8 FGA in 29 minutes
Poeltl in the 1st half of his last 2 games: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 0 blocks, 3 FGA in 27 minutes
Poeltl in the 2nd half: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 8 FGA in 29 minutes
Ingram and Barnes in the 1st half: 24 points on 16 shots, 8-for-12 from inside the arc, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Some good, efficient work from the Raptors' dynamic duo + another nice lift from the bench (19 points) = an 8-point lead at the half.
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Ingram and Barnes in the 1st half: 24 points on 16 shots, 8-for-12 from inside the arc, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Some good, efficient work from the Raptors' dynamic duo + another nice lift from the bench (19 points) = an 8-point lead at the half.
Reposted by Josh Lewenberg
It took Collin Murray-Boyles nine NBA games to match his two-year college output for made 3's.
9/18 in 8.5 NBA games so far vs. 9/39 over 60 college games. Great early sign
9/18 in 8.5 NBA games so far vs. 9/39 over 60 college games. Great early sign
November 12, 2025 at 1:34 AM
It took Collin Murray-Boyles nine NBA games to match his two-year college output for made 3's.
9/18 in 8.5 NBA games so far vs. 9/39 over 60 college games. Great early sign
9/18 in 8.5 NBA games so far vs. 9/39 over 60 college games. Great early sign
First-quarter bench scoring in the Raptors' last two games:
Toronto: 31
Opponent: 0
Toronto: 31
Opponent: 0
November 12, 2025 at 1:11 AM
First-quarter bench scoring in the Raptors' last two games:
Toronto: 31
Opponent: 0
Toronto: 31
Opponent: 0
Early Bat(tle) signal!
He's now 11-for-15 from 3-point range to start the season.
He's now 11-for-15 from 3-point range to start the season.
a man in a cape stands in front of a batman symbol
ALT: a man in a cape stands in front of a batman symbol
media.tenor.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Early Bat(tle) signal!
He's now 11-for-15 from 3-point range to start the season.
He's now 11-for-15 from 3-point range to start the season.