Date: November 23, 2025
Source: Toronto Raptors (YouTube)
Following Toronto’s 119–109 win over the Brooklyn Nets, head coach Darko Rajaković broke down the Raptors’ strong late-game execution, the bench impact, Ja’Kobe’s confidence surge, Brandon Ingram’s 10,000-point milestone, and the challenges posed by Brooklyn’s improved play.
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On Clutch Execution in the Final Three Minutes
“It came down that we really needed good offensive execution. I thought guys got to their spots on the floor. BI made a couple of great plays finding open people. Defensively, the last three or four minutes we had Scottie guarding Michael Porter Jr. and he did outstanding job making it really hard on him. Our rebounding was key down the stretch as well.”
On the Bench Impact and Ja’Kobe’s Performance
“Ja’Kobe was great tonight. He played with swag, he played with energy. He did a really good job defensively as well. Jamal brought us a lot of great stuff from the bench — touching the paint, playmaking, giving us extra life. That’s what we expect from our bench: extra energy and extra focus.”
On Brooklyn Being a Tougher Opponent Than Before
“Brooklyn played a really good game. They’re playing much better than a couple of weeks ago. That was not an easy matchup for us tonight.”
On Ja’Kobe Staying Confident Through His Early-Season Slump
“Everything goes back to work. He put extremely huge amount of work in over the summer and preseason. He’s usually one of the guys taking the most shots in our gym. Seeing him confident out there and taking good shots, not forcing anything, was really helpful. For a young player that wants to prove himself, it’s important to take good shots and have a good selection. He did a really good job with that tonight.”
On Using Brandon Ingram in the Pinch-Post and Handling Double Teams
“We talked a lot about the importance of playmaking from that position. Brandon can score there, but teams have to decide if they’re willing to leave our shooters open or allow him to play one-on-one. His playmaking was outstanding down the stretch. Congratulations to Brandon for 10,000 career points — a big benchmark for him.”
On Ingram Drawing Double Teams Consistently
“He’s such a prolific scorer and his shooting percentages are amazing. I’m not surprised teams double him. But if they do, his playmaking is elite as well. They have to pick their poison.”
On RJ Barrett’s Status
“No, not yet. Not yet.”
Pulse Takeaway
Toronto showed *real* maturity in this one. Rajaković praised the calm, structured execution in the final minutes — a growing theme — while highlighting Ja’Kobe’s confidence surge, Ingram’s elite playmaking under pressure, and strong defensive matchups from Barnes. Brooklyn pushed, but the Raptors responded with poise, ball movement, and bench energy.
Quotes from Darko Rajaković via Toronto Raptors (YouTube).
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and length.