Well, the streak had to end at some point. The Toronto Raptors went into last night looking for a tenth straight win and instead walked out with an overtime loss, and honestly, are we even surprised it happened in overtime? Toronto and overtime are not exactly friends, and it really is Toronto’s kryptonite.
Still, even with the loss, I walked away thinking this group has nothing to hang their heads about. They battled, they pushed, and they kept control of the game for long stretches. If one or two possessions had gone the other way, we would be talking about double-digit wins in a row right now.
A Tight Battle All Night
The Hornets came in hungry and they played like they had something to prove. LaMelo Ball was dangerous every time he crossed half court and once he found his rhythm, it took everything Toronto had to slow him down. Miles Bridges also gave the Raptors problems inside and hit a few shots that stopped Toronto’s momentum.
Still, even with the loss, this group continued to show why fans are buzzing again. They fought hard, kept control for long stretches, and stayed composed without RJ Barrett, who sat out. They had their chances, and on another night, we might be celebrating a tenth straight win.
It really was one of those games where both teams traded punches and the Raptors just came up a little short in the extra frame.
Gradey Dick Update
After the scary fall earlier in the week, Gradey Dick did play last night and the team kept a close eye on him throughout. He logged minutes, took shots, and did not show obvious signs of lingering trouble. The club said they would continue to monitor him and be cautious. That conservative approach makes sense given how the season matters right now.
Toronto’s Kryptonite Showed Up Again
Call it a coincidence or fate, but overtime really has been tough on Toronto lately. It felt like their kryptonite returned in the worst possible way. Still, the bigger picture is what matters: they pushed, they competed, and even in loss, the growth was obvious. The mistake to fix is closing out tight moments, but that is a solvable problem.
Still Near the Top of the East
Even with the loss, the Raptors remained right near the top of the Eastern Conference. Think about that for a second. After the rocky start that had fans questioning everything, this team climbed all the way back into the top tier. They did it with defense, with depth, with unselfish play, and with a belief that seems to grow each game. One loss, even this one, does not change any of that.
What’s Next?
Now the goal is simple: Reset, Refocus, and start building the next streak! The Raptors have looked like a complete team for weeks now, not a group that got lucky or caught a weak stretch of schedule. They have earned their wins, they have found chemistry, and they look like they are only getting stronger.
Another big stretch of games is coming up and you can almost feel the confidence rising. If this group keeps defending the way they have and keeps trusting the game plan, the results will follow.
One loss does not erase everything that has been built this month. We will see how they respond in New York, but for now I am proud and optimistic. As a long-time fan, I am not letting one overtime loss shake anything. This team looks really, really good, and if this is what they look like in November, just imagine where they could be by spring.
👏 Let’s Go Raptors 👏
