Date: November 24, 2025
Source: Toronto Raptors (YouTube)
Following Toronto’s 110–99 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, head coach Darko Rajaković broke down Brandon Ingram’s dominant performance, Scottie Barnes’ late-game takeover, the defensive plan on Donovan Mitchell, the benefits of playing two point guards, and the team’s growing chemistry.
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On Brandon Ingram Carrying the Offense and His Two-Way Impact
“Brandon did a great job tonight. He was obviously hot. We did a good job of finding him. He did a great job of getting to his spots and getting good looks for us. I also told the team I thought Brandon did a great job defensively as well. He rebounded the ball well, he was in the right spots getting deflections. He’s doing it on both ends of the floor and he’s really helping us get wins.”
On Defending Donovan Mitchell
“In the fourth quarter Mitchell started with only seven points, ended up with 17. That type of player, that magnitude of player, it’s really hard to contain him. As a team we did a really good job. It was Ja’Kobe, it was Jamal, it was Ochai, it was multiple players. We also did a really good job on Mobley. Scottie did a really good job against him. In the fourth quarter when the game was on the line, Scottie just turns into this monster that gets all the stops and deflections and rebounds and points. He did an outstanding job for us.”
On Feeding Ingram Without Breaking Offensive Principles
“He’s a player that, especially when he gets going, we as a team recognize that we need that and it’s good for us. At the same time, we’ve got to stay inside our principles — quick decisions and ball movement. Finding him through that style of play as well. Tonight it was pretty balanced. He did get the shots, but those were good shots for us.”
On Closing With Both Immanuel Quickley and Jamal Shead
“Jamal is affecting winning. He does a great job not just playing offense or defense, but communicating on the floor, keeping the group together, setting us up. It’s not really the points he’s scoring — it’s all the other stuff he does that’s very important.”
On the First-Half Run With Both Guards on the Floor
“I think it’s very important. Both of them do a really good job keeping us running in transition and finding outlet passes. They get us organized. Both of them are really good three-point shooters, so that creates extra space for us as well.”
On End-of-Quarter Execution and Leadership
“No, but we can get you to talk to the team about that.”
On Being Out-Rebounded and the Value of Wing Rebounding
“It’s huge for us. Scottie and Brandon rebounding the ball, looking for outlet passes, finding each other in transition is very important. The stat line from Jakob tonight is not the one you’re going to say is amazing, but it’s amazing what he does for us and how many winning plays he makes. By the way, we want to dedicate this win to RJ, who was not with us tonight.”
On Winning All But One Game This Month
“There’s nothing to enjoy. We win the game and there is a next game coming very quickly. It’s good for confidence, it’s good for us to continue learning, to figure out our chemistry. When you lose RJ Barrett from a game like tonight, everybody else steps in with different roles and different sub patterns. There is always work to do. We enjoy each other, we enjoy the journey, and thank God we are getting wins as well.”
On Whether the Team Is Ahead of Schedule
“For this early in the season, I think we’re ahead of schedule with the chemistry and how well they’re communicating — figuring out in the middle of the game what we need to do and how we need to adjust, being honest with each other. I think that’s a little bit ahead of schedule.”
On What He Attributes the Chemistry To
“The character of the people we have. Every single person in our locker room wants to win. They’re extremely competitive. They’re team-oriented and they accept each other. When you have acceptance, that’s a big reason you can be yourself, knowing your team accepts you. We love all our players, we love what they bring, and they’re supporting and cheering for each other. That’s a big part of why they’re successful on the court.”
Pulse Takeaway
Toronto’s identity is becoming clearer with each win: elite two-way wing play, smart late-game adjustments, and multi-guard orchestration. Rajaković highlighted Brandon Ingram’s efficiency on both ends, Scottie Barnes’ takeover mode in winning time, and Jamal Shead’s quiet but vital impact. Above all, the Raptors’ chemistry — built on competition and acceptance — is accelerating faster than expected.
Quotes from Darko Rajaković via Toronto Raptors (YouTube).
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and length.