The Toronto Raptors didn’t wait for the calendar to turn for a reason to initiate the early stages of a sorely needed transformation.
They’re still a long way from being the type of team they want to be.
But from the perspective of those not privy to what’s going on inside the locker room, the Raptors seemingly have taken a long enough look in the mirror to confirm what’s been known for a while – they need to be better.
After two dramatic comeback victories in their last two games, the Raptors have another opportunity to redefine who they ultimately want to be when they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
With tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST on Sportsnet, here are five resolutions for the Raptors’ matchup against the Nuggets and the new year.
From notoriously hurt to a clean bill of health
The Toronto Raptors medical team took care of Kawhi Leonard. Seven years later, they’re guiding Brandon Ingram to play in his 35th straight game.
After only suiting up for 18 games last season, it’s something to celebrate
It’ll be Ingram’s longest string of appearances since playing in 34 consecutive contests in 2023-24. He started a career-high 64 games that year. Ingram is also playing 34.2 minutes per game, which ranks second only to his 2020-21 season when he averaged 34.3 minutes
Ingram will undoubtedly miss time this year but if he can set a new personal best in games played and finish around the 70 appearances, it’ll go a long way in justifying the trade to acquire him, even if any potential playoff run is cut short.
Rebuild We The North
Once upon a time, not too long ago, the Raptors used to play in an environment that opponents feared. That reputation took a hit in the last two years, with the Raptors going 32-50 at home. But from 2013-23, Toronto was an elite basketball fortress. The team only one had one losing season at home (16-20 in 2020-21) and compiled a .627 win percentage. During this nine-season stretch, the Raptors finished an average of 16.4 wins above the .500 mark.
After winning the first two contests of a five-game homestand, the Raptors are currently 10-7 at home. The Scotiabank Arena has felt like a raucous party again in the last two games. Capturing that vibe enough times so it becomes normal again can catapult the Raptors back into the playoffs.
Take advantage of other teams’ misfortune
With Nikola Jokić hyperextending his left knee, Denver must deal with an MVP-sized hole in its frontcourt. Even before Jokic’s injury, the Nuggets had desperately yearned for good health headed into 2026.
Cam Johnson recently hurt his right knee. Christian Braun has been out with an ankle injury since Nov. 12 and Aaron Gordon has missed the last 17 games due to his hamstring. Jokic is expected to miss at least four weeks, and suddenly, the Nuggets are in danger of slipping into the play-in amid a crowded Western Conference playoff race.
For the Raptors, this means taking care of business in an industry in which they’ve struggled to find their footing. The Los Angeles Lakers (Luka Doncic), Boston Celtics (Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown), and New York Knicks (OG Anunoby) have all recently stolen wins from the Raptors without key players in their lineup.
It’s often pointed out that some of the Raptors’ inconsistencies can be blamed on Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett missing time. There’s some legitimacy to those claims. But opposing injuries don’t seem to benefit Toronto and that’s a problem.
It’s December and there’s plenty of runway left but the Raptors need to begin stacking up wins before the race truly heats up in March.
Sprint out of the gates
False starts have plagued the Raptors in the last two games. While Scottie Barnes’ historic night saved them against the Golden State Warriors and a scrappy bench unit propelled the team past the Orlando Magic, falling behind early in games isn’t necessarily a sound plan.
A quick start is key to any team’s success but the Raptors lean on momentum more than most teams. Toronto is 12-4 when leading after the first 12 minutes. The Raptors are also 7-0 when they win the first two quarters.
Stay alive at the five
Poeltl is being reevaluated in a week but there’s a feeling among the fanbase that the Austrian’s back issues will linger throughout the season. Scottie Barnes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Murray-Boyles have done an admirable job of taking on centre responsibilities, but it’s not sustainable over the course of 82 games.
The Raptors’ latest attempt at addressing the problem was signing Mo Bamba to a non-guaranteed contract. The newest Raptor recorded one block in nearly four minutes of action in his debut.
There’s a mixture of curiosity and excitement around the acquisition that extends to his teammates in the locker room.
“Everybody knows that we needed that…we’ve been running a lot of small-ball five, especially with Jakob being out,” said Murray-Boyles. “So definitely having someone protect the paint and grab more rebounds is something we really need.”
How Bamba fares as the backup centre may determine how quickly the Raptors act in the 2026 trade market.
