The NBA Cup opener sees the Toronto Raptors hosting the Orlando Magic at Scotiabank Arena tonight (7:30 p.m. ET). Coming off a 129‑99 defensive showcase, the 3‑1 Raptors (4th East, league‑best defensive rating 97.9) aim to repeat the squeeze, leveraging their top‑ranked deflections and size against a Magic squad plagued by injuries to Banchero, Suggs and others. Orlando (1‑3, 29th in offense) must rely on Franz Wagner and a hot Desmond Bane to exploit any Raptors over‑aggression on the perimeter. Key absences include Kawhi Leonard for Toronto and several front‑court stars for Orlando.
Former NBA forward Kevin Knox, the 2018 No. 9 pick, signs a rest‑of‑season contract with Spain’s Unicaja Málaga after being waived by Orlando. The deal, pending a physical, marks Knox’s first overseas stint. A seven‑year NBA veteran, Knox posted 7.3 points and 2.8 rebounds over 320 games, most recently with Golden State in 2024‑25, and averaged 21.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in 39 G‑League games last season. Unicaja, battling injuries, competes in the Liga ACB and Basketball Champions League.
They Raptors have a chance to start the Emirates NBA Cup with another win against the Magic.
Raptor coach Darko Rajaković backs centre Jakob Poeltl despite a sluggish start—averaging just 3 points, 4.5 rebounds and under a block in under 20 minutes over the first four games—citing his defensive impact that doesn’t show up in the box score. At the same time, Rajaković hints at shaking up the centre rotation, giving more minutes to 6'9" rookie Trayce Jackson‑Davis, who grabbed 11 rebounds after Poeltl and Collin Murray‑Boyles fell into foul trouble. With the team set to face the Orlando Magic Friday, the coach will weigh Poeltl’s chance to prove starter status against Jackson‑Davis’s push for a larger role.
A wave of early‑season injuries is reshaping the NBA landscape and could benefit the Philadelphia 76ers. While teams like the Thunder, Raptors, Timberwolves, Jazz and Magic grapple with key players out for weeks or months, the Sixers have all five starters healthy and just secured a 114‑109 win over an injury‑hit Pacers squad. The Sixers’ schedule lets them dodge many of these absentees, potentially easing their Eastern Conference race and reducing the load on Joel Embiid and LeBron James. Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey is thriving—averaging 28.4 points, 4.6 assists and earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week—positioning him for All‑NBA honors and a lucrative contract extension. The article explores how the injury surge may both open doors and create new challenges for Philadelphia.
The Raptors, as a whole, bounced back well from their blowout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They beat the short-handed Orlando Magic 129-99. RJ Barrett co
The Toronto Raptors confirm that star forward Kawhi Leonard will miss “weeks” after his left knee swelled, though imaging shows no structural damage. The team will begin treatment and reevaluate him in a week, likely sidelining him for at least the next four games (vs. Orlando, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers). Leonard, who was traded from L.A. in September, posted 32.4% shooting and 3.5 steals in 26 minutes over the first two regular‑season games before sitting out the Minnesota matchup. In his absence, Ja’Kobe Walter starts, with Allen Graves and Kyle Anderson set to see expanded roles.
Scottie Barnes pours in 28 points and RJ Barrett adds 25 as the Toronto Raptors dismantle the Orlando Magic 129-99 at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 29, 2026. The win lifts Toronto to a 3-1 start and kicks off a two‑game series with a dominant 30‑point margin.
A Toronto Raptors bounce back of the highest order.
The post RAPTORS vs MAGIC: Scottie Barnes Responded In The Best Way Possible first appeared on Raptors Republic .
The Toronto Raptors routed the Orlando Magic 129-99 on Oct. 28, improving to 3-1 and 1-1 without Kawhi Leonard. RJ Barrett led with 25 points on 50% shooting, matching his second‑best halftime output, while Scottie Barnes posted 28 points, six rebounds and four assists. A pivotal 11‑2 run early in the game featured contributions from Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead (who scored a season‑high 13 off the bench), Jamison Battle and rookie Trayce Jackson‑Davis, sparking a comeback and energizing Scotiabank Arena. Coach Darko Rajaković praised the bench’s effort and highlighted Barnes’ paint‑first strategy. The win underscores the Raptors’ depth and resilience in Leonard’s absence.
The Raptors beat the Bucks of the Orlando Magic Wednesday night. In my postgame takeaways, I'm bringing you a redemption arc, a hero, and an awful tandem.
Rookie Gonzaga alum Graham Ike earns his first NBA start for the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 23, scoring 10 points in 12 minutes against Memphis and logging a 12‑point, 10‑rebound double‑double the next night versus Phoenix. Undrafted and signed to an Exhibit‑10 deal in June, Ike’s early minutes shine amid a rebuilding Warriors roster. The piece also notes fellow Zags Jalen Suggs’ 14‑point outing for Orlando before a knee bone bruise sidelines him for two weeks, and highlights Andrew Nembhard’s solid start with Indiana. Connections between Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Warriors’ Steve Kerr hint at more opportunities for Ike this season.
The Raptors crush the Magic 129‑99 on Oct. 29, 2026, with Scottie Barnes leading the way (28 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, +30 plus/minus) and RJ Barrett adding 25 points on efficient shooting. Immanuel Quickley fuels the offense with 16 points, 7 assists and aggressive playmaking, while Ja'Kobe Walter contributes 14 points and solid defense. Toronto’s defense stifles Orlando, highlighted by Barnes’ steals and blocks, and the bench adds depth with Trayce Jackson‑Davis’ 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. The win showcases Toronto’s relentless aggression on both ends and sets a tone for the early season.
On Oct. 29, 2026 the Toronto Raptors rallied past the Orlando Magic despite Kawhi Leonard’s absence. After a shaky start and a 19‑10 early deficit, Scottie Barnes sparked the comeback with aggressive drives and a highlight‑reel 360 dunk, while RJ Barrett erupted for 12 points, including three early threes, to push Toronto to a 7‑point lead. The duo’s pick‑and‑roll chemistry helped the Raptors build a 16‑point halftime advantage and extend the lead to 26 early in the third. Franz Wagner’s 7 first‑half turnovers and improved defensive spacing, noted by coach Sweeney, sealed the win.
After a scoreless night against Minnesota, Scottie Barnes electrifies the Raptors’ home crowd with a 360 dunk on a fast‑break third‑quarter play versus the Orlando Magic on Oct. 29, 2026. The 25‑year‑old now leads Toronto with 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals as they build a fourth‑quarter lead. With Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely, Barnes, averaging 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists this season, vows to dominate defensively and chase his first All‑Defensive Team nod.
Jonathan Isaac remains sidelined for the Orlando Magic, still rehabbing a left‑knee sprain and nerve issue from a March injury and is not expected to return this season. The veteran, who re‑signed on a minimum deal after being waived, still has $8 million guaranteed from his $14.5 million contract and appeared in 52 games last year. Meanwhile, Miami’s Nikola Jovic, fresh off a four‑year, $64.2 million extension, is adapting to an undefined role as Coach Spoelstra seeks his spot. Former Magic forward Kevin Knox, waived in camp, is negotiating a move to Spain after a G‑League stint, and Brandon Miller just secured a five‑year, $208.8 million extension, cementing his status as the Charlotte Hornets’ leader.
When the Toronto Raptors play the Orlando Magic, will they have Kawhi Leonard available to them?
The NBA injury roundup for Wednesday, Oct. 28 shows Anthony Edwards and Paolo Banchero officially out, joining Jimmy Butler and Alperen Şengün on the sidelines. Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie Irving and Lauri Markkanen are listed as questionable, while AJ Dybantsa is back in the Washington rotation. Minnesota faces a tough 10‑game stretch without Edwards, and other teams must adjust to the cascade of absences.
As the Lakers explore more options to bolster their center rotation, we examine a potential trade idea involving the Magic.
Game Four of the NBA season pits the Toronto Raptors (2-1, top defensive rating) against the injury‑hit Orlando Magic (1-2). The Raptors lost to Minnesota after Kawhi Leonard’s exit and saw Scottie Barnes go 0‑for‑12, while RJ Barrett remains perfect in 20‑plus‑point games. Orlando, fresh off a win over the Knicks, is without Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero and Jonathan Isaac. Both teams struggle offensively, and Toronto’s star is still out, making the matchup a defensive showdown at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 28, tip‑off 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN/TSN+).
The Raptors head into Wednesday’s showdown with the Orlando Magic missing Kawhi Leonard, who is sidelined with left‑knee swelling. The article revisits Toronto’s 17‑5 record without Leonard in 2019, noting ten wins came against Eastern opponents—nine of them non‑playoff teams—while all five losses were to playoff clubs. With the Magic also shorthanded (Paolo Banchero out 4‑6 weeks, Jalen Suggs out at least two), the piece breaks down the Raptors’ past performance without their star and highlights how those trends could shape the upcoming Eastern‑conference clash.
Kawhi Leonard confirms he will miss several weeks with knee swelling but no structural damage, posting a personal tweet thanking fans and pledging a quick return. Raptors officials echo the update, noting a reassessment within a week. In his absence, RJ Barrett expects a larger offensive role, while rookie Ja’Kobe Walter delivered 22 points and two steals as a starter against Minnesota. The team will experiment with lineups, especially against the shorthanded Orlando Magic, as they gauge how to cope without Leonard’s spacing. Transparency from Leonard and Toronto may keep fans reassured during his load‑management stint.
Kawhi Leonard will miss the Raptors' upcoming game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena and the subsequent matchup with the Clippers after his left knee swelled during the loss to Minnesota. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that an MRI showed no structural damage, but the team plans a multi‑week rest to ramp him back up. Leonard entered the season averaging 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.5 assists while shooting poorly (32.4% FG, 28.6% 3‑pt). Toronto won its first two games before the Timberwolves' 117‑94 rout, and now faces Orlando before a four‑game road stretch.
With the Knicks sitting 0-3, point guard Jalen Brunson says his top priority is organizing the offense before Detroit heads to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. After posting 28 points against Orlando and 19 versus Boston, Brunson emphasizes clean screens and early decisions rather than forcing every shot. He stresses trusting teammates—Karl‑Anthony Towns has contributed 22 points in each of the last two games—as Detroit, now 3-0, will likely focus its defense on him. Injuries add intrigue: Jose Alvarado is out for New York and Pistons’ center Jalen Duren is sidelined. The upcoming clash tests Brunson’s leadership and the Knicks’ ability to tighten up their offensive flow.
The Magic should investigate making another trade with the Grizzlies to withstand their current injury crisis.