Doug Smith

Raptors vs. Mavericks: Toronto has pace, purpose and a lot of RJ Barrett in win Barrett scores 31 and, more importantly, impresses with his defence.

A thorough Raptors victory eases a skid

www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

Raptors lots
Mavericks lots less

31 for RJ, 16-10 from Poeltl

Good Toronto effort against an over-matched foe but that’s what they need to do

3 games in 4 nights start Tuesday in Houston

Raptors up 88-66 after 3
RJ 21, Barnes 14, Poeltl 12, Ingram and Mamu 10 each
Easy dismantling of lesser quality opponent

Hang on! They gotta play another quarter after this one?
This game feels like 8 hours old

RJ Barrett's got 21, Raptors have a 21-point lead with more than half of the third quarter to go

Certainly not a scintillating game but Raptors comfortably ahead 57-44 at half. RJ with 16; Gafford 13 for Mavs.

It's a dislocated right middle finger for Jackson-Davis

Raptors are taking care of business, have forced 9 turnovers, have only committed 1 and they have 19 points off the bench so far
Up a dozen approaching halfway in second quarter

Raptors are miserable 2-for-12 from three but somehow lead Mavs 36-29 after a quarter.
Barnes, Barrett and Dick all have 7 points

It includes a tough layup in traffic, a nice pass for an assist and three personal fouls in about ONE MINUTE

An early appearance coming for Gradey Dick

Wondered why the Raptor bench looked down a pint.
Trayce Jackson-Davis hurt a finger during the warm up and he won't be available, the team's crack PR staff came by to tell us

Raptors say Brandon Ingram was sick but is sick no longer and he'll play against Dallas shortly
Cooper Flagg got his pre-game work in and cleared to play for the Mavs

Raptors mailbag: How to honour DeMar DeRozan and what to take away from this season In this week’s mailbag, Doug Smith takes questions on NBA playoff contenders, the Blue Jays, three-point struggles, FIBA World Cup qualification and more.

Ye Olde Mailbag lands

www.thestar.com/sports/doug-...

Raptors will get Trayce Jackson-Davis time with the 905 tonight; 905 also add Markelle Fultz off the G League waiver wire.
(Fultz move does NOT give the Raptors his NBA rights; if they want to add him after March 17 to fill final roster spot (and avoid tax) it'd be on a 10-day or rest of year deal)

Time to load up Ye Olde Mailbag for the weekend, send the questions along to askdoug (at) thestar dot ca and we'll get them taken care of

Timberwolves full measure of that win, without a question.

Raptors full measure of that loss, too. Second half was miserable

Timberwolves up 90-76 after the third, Raptors' offence was butt ugly for the whole quarter

Well, this got out of control quickly. Timberwolves by 15

Another 8-second Raptors violation in as many games; that's really unacceptable

I don't think the Raptors starters can go all 24 in the second half but 20 each might be necessary.

Timberwolves up one at the half

Raptors being at their disruptive best on defence, have turned Minny over 7 and lead by six

Raptors backups barf up a good start, Minnesota up 4 after a quarter

Raptors use, and lose, challenge on a tight out of bounds call in a two point game in the first quarter. Strikes me as an entirely unneeded gamble

A rare early appearance for Jonathan Mogbo here

Raptors up 10 after about 4 minutes, transition offence quite efficient

Raptors now say Brandon Ingram is good to go this evening in Minnesota

Thumb issues have Collin Murray-Boyles out and Brandon Ingram questionable for the Raptors in Minnesota on Thursday night

Raptors Insider: What GM Bobby Webster must do to address Toronto’s late-game failures Toronto lacks veterans, true playoff vets who’ve been around the block, and that’s becoming more apparent the later it gets in the season.

What the Raptors need most is some old heads who've been through the grind

www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

Older, more tested Knicks end game on 16-2 run to beat Raptors
Toronto’s getting there but it’s a hard, hard road