The Palaeontologist's Hammer

If Raps beat Washington tomorrow AND Indy loses vs. Cleveland, the Raptors win Group A of the NBA Emirates Cup, clinching a spot in the QF.

But will there be a banner?

(Full disclosure, Ball was my #1 offseason trade target. I still think Ball has great potential in a change of scenery, and that replacing RJ with Ball would be worth the risk to find out...)

Question: Who would you rather have, Immanuel Quickley or LaMelo Ball?

Good for the Raptors. After the lead was cut to three, they outscore PHI 12-6 in the final four minutes. Got the job done on both ends.

After a rough game to that point, IQ goes 4 for 5 in the 4Q, sealing the deal. Meanwhile, Maxey took (and missed) only one 4Q shot. That's how you do it!

I have a bad feeling about this. Five offensive rebounds allowed to start 4Q, capped by a turnover off an ATO, and another shortly after

C'mon Raps!

4th Quarter

Wow, what a 3Q! Outpaced the Sixers 44-26, playing great on both ends.

About to board my flight, hope they don't crap the bed down the stretch...

RJ recognizes what's working, attacks the rim and gets to the line. Really like how they took advantage of the early bonus this quarter

(His free throw struggles continue though)

Boy, Gradey has looked spry tonight. Not much in the box score but he is making winning plays.

Scottie is +16 tonight. His interior passing is off the charts

Mamu comes in, attacks rim, gets fouled, makes free throws to push largest lead.

I feel seen

Considering they are in the bonus, I might get Mamu in for Jakob in for Mamu here. A more dynamic threat who can drive and theoretically do better at the charity stripe

3rd Quarter

Much better job containing Maxey so far.
Ingram has been smooth as silk tonight
Bonus with 6+ minutes remaining, would like to see them get aggressive attacking the rim

Combine that with getting sloppy with the ball in 2Q, and they lose the first half to a less talented (shorthanded) team

Good news is that these issues (defensive approach, ball security) are correctable, and they have had excellent flashes at times.

Should be a W but that depends on adjustments

Halftime Takeaways

They are not defending well enough to win this game. The forced turnovers are fine, but not at the expense of easy looks and poor defensive rebounding, which is what's happening out there. Unsustainable.

One of the coaching phrases I repeat all the time: Do you know what they call a three pointer with your foot on the line?

2nd Quarter
Not sure where Mamu committed that foul, while being pushed in the back when he jumped, or while being pushed to the floor after

Things are still a little too easy for PHI on offense at times...

Meanwhile, Maxey is just an inferno whenever he touches the ball. So fun to watch!

Minor call, but if Maxey inadvertently kicked the ball into SheadHead, isn't that a kickball, and our ball?

Interesting, Walter is first off the bench. He hasn't earned that, but Darko surely wants his D vs Maxey

Raptors' passing is really popping early, but the PHI offense isn't having to work to hard. Shooting 50% on ten shots, but three misses came on a possession in which they got three offensive rebounds. This is not a team that should have a rebounding advantage against TOR

Raptors @ 76ers
Nov 19, 2025

Not sure how much I'll be active tonight, waiting at Pearson for a flight.

No Embiid+George should mean a decent chance to avenge their recent loss, but that Philly backcourt....

FIVE stocks for BI tonight, including a steal and that block in crunch time. Excellent!

Considering how well he played (and has been playing), I would like to see Gradey get more shots and on-ball opportunities. He's been efficient and productive, and him taking a step would be HUGE for the team.

BI with a solid game, especially down the stretch. In his postgame interview he mentioned being challenged by the team on defense: While he assisted RJ to put them ahead for good, his block on the 7'1" centre was his most important contribution tonight. You like to see it!

Scottie with another impactful game going beyond his numbers. He stuffs the stat sheet, but I would like to give props for only committing one turnover on a night when the team was sloppy with the ball.

That is quiet leadership by example. He has been uncanny at providing what they need each night.

Final Takeaways

While it would be nice to have gotten that W by a much more comfortable margin, we'll take it. It was the defense that pulled it out there, especially the highlight blocks by BI and Scottie in the last ten seconds

Good teams win the games they should, so another good sign tonight

Brandon Ingram, my GOODNESS!!!

Mama, there goes that man!

Nice ATO by CHA, but good defense by TOR

Raptors have a huge advantage here in being able to go two-for-one here. Tied game, they should get two chances to score against just one for the Hornets.

The Raptors have not been getting anything easy for some time now. They are just getting outworked by the Hornets. They're on track to lose if this continues...

Considering this, I liked Scottie going straight into barbecue chicken for an easy look on that offensive rebound.

Good to see Scottie back out on the floor. They are certainly going to need him!

4th Quarter

With Scottie coming up lame, RJ comes in and gives them 4 quick points, bookending that vicious BI poster.

We'll see if it lasts, but the Raptors seem to have turned up their intensity a notch

The Raptors playing at this pace really highlights who advanced Scottie's vision is. Makes the right decision so quickly when everything is in motion.

This!