Raptors’ Bench Steps Up to Edge Past Magic in Gritty Comeback Win
As the NBA season moves closer to its midway point, the Toronto Raptors are finding themselves tested, not just by tough opponents like the Orlando Magic, but also by injuries that have disrupted their usual rhythm. With key starters RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl sidelined for extended stretches, the pressure has quietly shifted to Toronto’s bench. And on Monday night, that second unit showed exactly why depth still matters in this league.
The Raptors pulled off a narrow 107–106 comeback win over the Magic, a game that felt like it was slipping away early. Toronto looked flat, especially in the first half of the second night of a back-to-back. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, normally the engines of the offense, were held to just two combined points before halftime. Shots weren’t falling, energy seemed low, and at one point, the Raptors were staring at a 20-point deficit.
That’s when Jamal Shead stepped into the spotlight.
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The backup point guard delivered a career-best performance, finishing with 19 points, five assists, and four rebounds. More importantly, he was trusted to run the show in crunch time. Shead played the entire fourth quarter, taking over most of the playmaking duties while Quickley spent much of that final stretch on the bench. The decision paid off, as Toronto slowly chipped away, defended with purpose, and found just enough offense to close the gap.
It wasn’t just Shead. Gradey Dick, who has struggled to find consistency this season, came off the bench with a confident 15-point outing. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles didn’t light up the scoreboard, but his impact was felt everywhere else. He grabbed 12 rebounds, seven of them on the offensive glass, providing extra possessions when Toronto desperately needed them. Coming off illness and limited preparation, his effort was described as pure energy and grit.
In the second half, Barnes began to look more like himself, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Brandon Ingram added 17 points and nine boards. When the game tightened late, Toronto’s stars found another gear, but the foundation had already been laid by the bench.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic later pointed to character as the defining factor. The team kept believing, even while shooting poorly early on, and refused to let the game get away. For a Raptors squad dealing with injuries and inconsistency, that resilience mattered.
This win wasn’t just about beating Orlando or staying ahead of the Magic in the standings. It was about growth. The Raptors’ bench is learning on the job, making mistakes, adjusting in real time, and gaining trust. And on a night when the starters needed help, that lesson turned into a much-needed victory.
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