Last night the Raptors came up short in a 139-121 loss at home to the Houston Rockets. The margin of defeat stung but beyond the scoreboard, there were both warning signs and silver linings. Houston’s win was powered in large part by Jabari Smith Jr. who dropped a season-high 25 points, and Kevin Durant who added 31, including clutch threes in the fourth quarter. For Toronto, the game felt like a microcosm of where they are: flashes of promise, but also vulnerabilities that the rest of the league is ready to exploit.
What Went Wrong & What Still Stood Out
What went wrong:
- The loss is frustrating but not devastating; early in the season these kinds of wake-up calls can serve a purpose.
- The Raptors were dominated and Houston owned the interior and transition opportunities early and often.
- Injuries and availability continue to bite Toronto. The absence of key big-man presence left them thin when Houston attacked inside.
- Despite shooting well beyond the arc, defence and consistency were lacking; the Rockets converted momentum into real advantage.
What stood out:
- Scottie Barnes poured in 31 points and remains one of the few Raptors constants night in and night out.
- On the offensive side, the team showed spurts of movement, ball-sharing and pace that hint at what this group wants to become.
Where Things Stand & Big Picture Takeaways
Entering this game the Raptors sat at 1-3 in this early season. There’s no panicking required, but the margin for error is narrowing. They’re clearly in a phase of forging identity. Coming off last season’s 30-52 finish, expectations were tempered.
Key takeaway: if Toronto wants to shift from “interesting” to “playoff contender”, these losses must stop being just “lessons” and start becoming “turning points”. The defence has to tighten, the roster depth must show up, and the big games must feel like they matter.
What’s Up Next & What to Keep an Eye On
The Raptors will next face the Milwaukee Bucks at home. It will be a chance to reset and show that last night’s result was an anomaly.
Things to watch:
- Can they protect the rim and match size? Last night was won inside. If they surrender that again, the scoreboard will reflect it.
- Will Barnes and company lead not just in scoring, but also in discipline and defence?
- How will the supporting cast respond? To lift a team, you need more than one or two stars.
- How’s the injury picture and rotation holding up? Depth will matter as the season grinds on.
Final Thoughts
It hurt. There’s no way around that, but the Raptors didn’t lose faith. They learned something. For the fans, this team is still worth following because they could be on the brink of turning some of these rough nights into the foundation for something bigger (I’m hoping).
Last night didn’t go the way any of us wanted (and let’s be honest so far neither is the season), but if they respond, it could be the one they remember. Let’s see how they handle the next one, because that’s when we’ll really begin to learn what this roster is made of!
👏 Let’s Go Raptors 👏
