The Toronto Raptors may have fallen to the Memphis Grizzlies 118-102 on Monday, but there was a familiar presence on the court that both softened the blow of a loss and boosted hopes for the future.
With Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and especially Immanuel Quickley out with injury, it was a chance for Jamal Shead to step up. Shead ultimately did so while summoning the spirit of Kyle Lowry.
Here are seven examples of how Shead looked like the Raptors legend during the game:
Finding
what the team needs the most
One thing Lowry was known for – other than his ability to lull opponents into committing offensive fouls – was his uncanny feel for the game. Whatever the Raptors needed at any given moment, Lowry usually dug into his deep bag of tricks to supply it. When Toronto was a horrendous 0-for-6 from the perimeter, it was Shead who hit the team’s first three of the game.
The point guard followed that up with two additional threes before the end of the first quarter. Shead’s three triples were the only shots Toronto made from beyond-the-arc in the opening frame. Considering Shead entered the contest shooting a career-low 21.7 per cent from the perimeter, it was very “Lowry” of him to transform into a deadly shooter when the moment called for it.
“Me being aggressive is going to add fuel to us,” said Shead. “They won’t be able to load up on Scottie, load up on Kawhi, load up on IQ.”
Shead finished with four three-pointers, the most he’s made this season. It’s the most threes Shead has made since Dec. 9, 2025 against the New York Knicks.
The signature Lowry move
Speaking of lulling opponents into a false sense of security, a player can’t have a Lowry-type game without drawing at least one offensive foul. In the second quarter, while Memphis was in semi-transition, Shead drew an offensive foul on Taylor Hendricks.
After the whistle was blown, and while Shead was on the ground, the point guard enthusiastically pointed the other way. It was easy for those in attendance at the Scotiabank Arena to cheer the blue-collar play. Even for those who don’t ever see the sequence, if you’ve watched the Raptors before, you know exactly what this looked like.
A night to remember
Despite the outcome, it still ended up being one of Shead’s best performances as a professional. Shead finished with 20 points on 35.2 per cent shooting. He was two points shy of tying his career-high (22 points vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 11 in 2026).
The uptick in usage was obviously due to the Raptors’ injuries, but Shead was ready for the call.
“A lot of guys wait for those opportunities and are just ready to play,” said Shead. “Obviously those are really important pieces for us…but when they’re out, it’s just next-man up.”
Authoring a career-type game while undermanned is very Lowry-coded.
Mighty mouse in the house
Lowry’s stature may have prevented him from living above the rim during his 20-year career, but it didn’t stop him from controlling the painted area – and it didn’t matter how much height he was giving up.
On two separate occasions, Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer had Shead pinned in the paint. The first example occurred in the opening quarter. Shead leaned his body into Boozer’s back, daring Memphis to throw the entry pass. Instead, the Grizzlies opted out.
Later in the game, Boozer received a pass near the basket with Shead guarding him. While Shead’s help lurked nearby, Boozer quickly passed to the opposite side instead of taking advantage of his size.
The set-up man
While Shead may be light-years away from reaching Lowry’s all-time Raptors assists record – 3,447 to be exact – that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s an excellent table-setter. After setting a career-high in assists (16) against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 6, Shead continued to show his playmaking chops against Memphis. He led Toronto in assists with 11.
It’s also the way he got his teammates the ball that mirrored Lowry.
Shead’s Nash dribble as he exited the baseline before throwing the lob pass was fun. Later in the game, Shead’s dribble drive opened up the lanes and as soon as the Memphis defence committed, he kicked it to the corner for an Allen Graves three. Shead’s paint touches and vision also make the game visibly easier for Jakob Poeltl.
“We had a lot of great conversations during the game about where he’s going to be,” said Shead. “He’s very mobile and can kind of handle the ball. He’s really smart…it’s really easy playing with Jak.”
An endless amount of pocket passes, dump-offs and alley-oops allowed Poeltl to have his best game of the season. Poeltl finished with 18 points and eight rebounds.
QB1 at the one
The only player that might’ve thrown a better outlet pass as a Raptor than Lowry was Marc Gasol, but Shead definitely added to his resume against the Grizzlies. In the second quarter, Shead corralled a defensive rebound and immediately threw a deep ball to Walter on the break. The play shifted the momentum and brought the entire Raptors bench, including Barnes, off their feet.
“Those guys really want to be out there,” said Shead. “But they’re really engaged with us regardless if they’re out there or not, and that’s really helpful.”
Later in the fourth quarter, Shead fought through the trees and somehow snagged the defensive rebound. Without hesitation, he launched a perfect outlet pass to Jamison Battle in stride, subsequently leading to an easy two points during a pivotal moment in the game.
Electric defensive plays
Lowry had a knack for coming up with clutch defensive plays, especially when the Raptors were in dire need of a stop. When Graves helped knock a ball loose at the top of the arc, Shead teleported to the ball and rushed down the court for a breakaway layup, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Moments later, while getting back on defence, Shead motioned to the bench to ask for a breather. Before the whistle blew, Shead swiped at the ball while Canadian Zach Edey had it under the basket, causing it to go off his leg and out of bounds. As the crowd roared, Shead yelled as he walked back to the bench. The play was ultimately overturned due to a Poeltl foul, but it highlighted just how much passion and bravado Shead brings to the team.
Even while taking on a larger responsibility on the offensive end, Shead is still finding ways to impact the game defensively, just like Lowry.
“The more minutes I’ve been playing, I’ve took off the gas a little bit on the defensive side,” said Shead. “Once those guys come back, I get to do what I do best and go guard the ball.”
