Last night the Toronto Raptors picked up a big 122 to 109 win on the road against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on January 21, 2026. After a tough stretch, this performance showed what this Raptors team is capable of when everyone contributes and the offence gets rolling.
How the Game Played Out
Toronto trailed early and gave up 30 points in the first quarter, but a huge third quarter turned the game around. The Raptors exploded for 43 points in the third period, outscoring Sacramento by a wide margin and taking control of the contest. From there they never looked back, maintaining a lead the rest of the way and finishing strong.
Big Performances and Standouts
One of the reasons this win felt so complete was how balanced Toronto’s scoring was last night.
- Scottie Barnes led the way with 23 points, including 14 of them in that decisive third quarter. He also contributed across the stat sheet with rebounds, assists and steals, showing his all-around impact.
- Brandon Ingram matched Barnes with 23 points, knocking down key shots and helping pace the offence throughout.
- Sandro Mamukelashvili continued his strong stretch, finishing with 22 points and nine rebounds, moving effectively and consistently getting his looks to fall.
- Immanuel Quickley added 18 points and used his playmaking to keep the Raptors in rhythm on offence, while Jamal Shead scored 15 and helped keep the bench run productive.
- On the Kings side, Russell Westbrook led Sacramento with 23 points, Zach LaVine added 19, and Malik Monk scored 17, but they simply could not keep pace with Toronto’s offensive burst and team balance.
Are the Raptors Close to First in the East?
This win improved the Raptors’ record to 27 and 19 on the season, keeping them competitive in the upper part of the Eastern Conference standings. While they were not in first place in the East at this point, they were still in the mix and well positioned to climb with some consistency.
To chase the top of the conference, Toronto will want to:
• Continue to execute on both ends early so they avoid giving up big first-quarter leads.
• Keep role players contributing off the bench, which adds depth and keeps starters fresh.
• Stay healthy and avoid slow patches late in halves, where even strong teams have been vulnerable at times.
What Needs to Happen Next
Even though this was a convincing win, the Raptors know the road ahead won’t be easy. A few key areas of focus are:
• Defensive communication — tightening up on switches and rotations when opponents try to exploit mismatches.
• Ball movement and spacing — continuing to find open shooters and attacking lanes without forcing early isolation possessions.
• Closing habits — protecting leads through strong play in the fourth quarter rather than tightening up under pressure.
If Toronto can keep ticking those boxes, they should remain in strong shape as the playoff push continues.
Final Thoughts from a Long Time Fan
This was a statement night on the road. After giving up a lot of points early, the Raptors didn’t panic. They climbed back, took control with a blistering third quarter, and finished the job — and that’s a huge confidence boost.
Seeing Barnes take over in the third, Ingram play with poise, and the bench contribute meaningful minutes was exactly the kind of team win Raptors fans have been hoping for. That type of balanced attack and resilience against a hungry opponent feels like what we expected when this roster was assembled.
If they keep playing with this kind of energy, balance and execution, this squad can pile up wins and keep climbing the Eastern Conference leaderboard.
đź‘Ź Let’s Go Raptors đź‘Ź
