Raptors core gaining key experience down stretch

TORONTO – As the Toronto Raptors veer toward the end of the season with a playoff berth out of sight, the team’s focus has turned toward development.

But a 108-97 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, the Raptors’ third straight win, showed that development does not just apply to rookies and sophomores.

The trio of Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley keyed the Raptors’ latest victory — and provided some level of optimism that the team may be competing in more meaningful games one year from now.

“It’s great to see how hard they play … and how connected they are and how they communicate with each other and how they support each other,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “That’s big for me. For me, everything starts with playing hard, and everything starts with having good team chemistry, and that’s something I’m really proud we have on this team.”

Poeltl, the ninth-year centre out of Austria, led the Raptors with 24 points and added 12 rebounds to complete the double-double.

Barnes, the fourth-year forward and one-time all-star, contributed 18 points, six rebounds and six assists. Fifth-year guard Immanuel Quickley, acquired from the New York Knicks last season in the OG Anunoby deal, tacked on 19 points and nine helpers.

With all three players under contract for next season, Poeltl said their recent run of play — including the current three-game winning streak, plus two others earlier in March — has been crucial to future success.

“It’s big for building chemistry,” he said. “Hopefully we can get even more reps these last couple games of the season. I think it shows out there that we’ve been putting in the work throughout the year and now can test that more and more.”

“We’re nowhere close to being done, but I think we’re on a good wave of really showing that we can put in these stretches,” Poeltl said.

“Now it’s a matter of taking that to the next step, doing it against better opponents, doing it over a whole season, and hopefully the results will follow.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2025.