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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 2h

Knicks escape with a 122-120 win over Raptors. Toronto starting group looked good, the Leonard-Barnes-CMB threesome has to be the closing frontcourt in every close game

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 2h

Knicks dominate the last six minutes of the quarter, they're up going to the 4th Time for the late-rotation guys and Title Xers to determine this one

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 3h

Very nice few minutes defensively by the Raptors as they take a 3-point lead early in third quarter This Leonard-Barnes-CMB trio is gonna be something

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 3h

Starters back for both teams for a few minutes to open the third quarter

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 3h

Knicks up 5 on Raptors at the half, pretty good game for a lower-intensity pre-season tilt Barnes has 15, figure Toronto's starters have 5-8 minutes left each before their exhibition seasons are over

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4h

Raptors weren't particularly flying around on defence -- Knicks shoot 67 per cent from the floor -- and New York's up 3 after a quarter Barnes has 12 points and Murray-Boyles was tremendous

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4h

Raptors seem to have lost the page in the scouting report that says McBride likes to shoot 3s.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 4h

Five minutes in, Raptors up 2 and expect this to end Leonard's first stint on the court. Rajakovic told us yesterday they'd like to keep Kawhi at 3 stretches of 5-6 minutes these days. Maybe a few more tonight because he's sure to sit out tomorrow and there's two days off after the Pistons game.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 5h

Make that Bridges rather than Hart, my mistake

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 5h

Knicks are going with Brunson, Hart, Our Friend OG, Diawara and Towns It remains a pre-season game but as pre-season games go, it's got some interesting bits for the Raptors

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 5h

Raptors going with starting five of Quickley, Barrett, Leonard, Barnes and Poeltl in New York shortly.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 11h

Time to start filling up Ye Olde Mailbag for the coming weekend. All questions to askdoug (at) thestar dot ca are welcome.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Raptors eke out a 148-98 win over Knicks in lone home pre-season game Lots of guys have a lot of points

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

The Raptors have a 51-point lead and there should absolutely be more pre-season games

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Walter replaces Leonard to start the second half for Toronto; Kawhi's night is over

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Raptors hang 86 on the Faux Knicks are, led by 39 (THIRTY-NINE!!!) at the half and if they could stop this senseless slaughter, they should 21 for Leonard, 17 for Barnes, 15 for Barrett, 12 for Murray-Boyles.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Collin Murray-Boyles steps confidently into a 3 and makes it; Raptors by 31 and that's a positive sign from the second year big

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

15 from Barnes, 9 from Leonard, Raptors force 8 Knicks turnovers and lead 42-22 after a quarter

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

With 3 PFs in 4 minutes, the era begins slowly

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Okay, these aren't *really* the Knicks but the Raptor have forced 7 turnovers, are contesting every shot and lead by 20 with 90 seconds left in the first quarter

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Marina Mabrey in the house, and that's some shooting the Raptors could use

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

This is new: Seems they've moved the TV broadcasters here off the court and they're up on the same level as us. Top of lower bowl at midcourt (we're on the corner). That's another few grand in the Rogers bank account every game

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

It's Quickley, Barrett, Leonard, Barnes, Poeltl for Toronto Knicks giving starters the night off as they finish a back-to-back and will start Alvarado, McBride, Brown, Diawara, and Wiseman

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

A "very special day for us" is how Darko Rajakovic described the return of Kawhi Leonard, who'll start for the Raptors tonight against the Knicks

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Director’s Lounge? Not in these Scotiabank Arena times

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Most newsworthy item out of a Raptors Thanksgiving pratice: "He's feeling great. So, yes, he's gonna be available for the game tomorrow" -- Darko Rajakovic on Kawhi Leonard

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

This probably isn't the longest NBA pre-season game in history but I bet it's on a short list. Raptors going to beat the Clippers -- if the game ever ends

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Raptors by 20 and this rather dull affair will soon be entirely in the hands of the Title Xs

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Raptors getting an extended look at Poeltl and Murray-Boyles together; CMB replaces Walter to start third quarter

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

When the guys who'll play a lot played a lot, Raptors looked pretty good in stretches in Vancouver. Much better than a week ago in Quebec RJ's got 15 and Toronto's up 57-45 at the half

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

A few minutes of gruesome offence but Raptors up 6 after a quarter and that beats being down 6 after a quarter

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Raptors offence turns to mush, seems like they haven't scored in an hour

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

4 of Toronto's first 5 baskets are 3 pointers. That's a departure from recent norm. They're up 11 on the Clippers early

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Raptors running out the starting group of Quickley, Walter, Barrett, Barnes, Poeltl in Vancouver in a minute against the Clippers No Leonard, Graves, Bittle, Jackson-Davis, Martin for Toronto

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

It's last call for Ye Olde Mailbag submissions. Send the questions along to askdoug (at) thestar dot ca and we'll get them taken care of

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

With today's item up for consumption, time to solicit questions for Ye Olde Mailbag. Send 'em along to askdoug (at) thestar dot ca and we'll take care of them. www.thestar.com/sports/rapto...

thestar.com

Raptors Insider: The tale of slippery Rock revisited, and why Kawhi Leonard needs the guru

New assistant coach Stephen Silas was on the other side for one ill-fated moment in Raptors lore.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Heat legend and Canadian icon Joel Anthony in the house and about to grace your TV screens on the quarter break. It's 95-80 Heat after 3

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Murray-Boyles for Barnes, Shead for Quickley to start the second half for Toronto All five starters seem done for the Heat

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Oh, yeah It's 76-55 Heat at the half

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

You know what's missing here tonight? Larry Tanenbaum.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Red Panda!!! In Quebec Outstanding. Well done, NBA Canada

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Not exactly a Raptors defensive clinic to open the pre-season. The Heat hang 41 point on 'em and lead 41-23 after a quarter

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Guess they're not retiring Kyle Lowry's No. 7 in Miami since Giannis is wearing it now

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Not that it matters because he's not going to play in the fourth quarter anyway but two quick fouls on Barnes, including one offensive when he extended his forearm to create space for a shot. That's one of big no-no's in the points of emphasis this season.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

And totally apropos of nothing, if the Tall Foreheads at the NHL would rather fail again in Atlanta and Houston and ignore a tremendous arena here in Quebec and a market that, you knows, loves the pucks, those Tall Foreheads need to get drug-tested This is a great building

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

As expected, Quickley, Walter, Barrett, Barnes and Poeltl for Toronto; Mitchell, Wiggins, Thompson, Antetokounmpo and Adebayo for the Heat.

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Doug Smith @smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Slowly ramping Kawhi Leonard up, he’ll sit out Raptors-Heat this morning and it’s unlikely he goes next week in Vancouver vs. LAC, as well

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