Last night the Toronto Raptors suffered a 110-93 loss on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on January 18, 2026. Even though the Raptors competed through three quarters, the Lakers pulled away in the fourth with a strong defensive effort and timely scoring, leaving Toronto searching for answers on both ends of the floor.
How the Game Played Out
Toronto hung with Los Angeles early and kept it close through three quarters, but a decisive scoring run by the Lakers allowed them to take control in the final period. The Raptors’ offence stalled late, and the Lakers used a balanced attack and improved defence to outscore Toronto in the fourth, creating enough cushion to secure the road win.
Standout Performances
For the Lakers:
- Deandre Ayton was brilliant, finishing with 25 points on a perfect 10-for-10 shooting night and adding 13 rebounds in an efficient double-double that anchored Los Angeles inside. His performance was historic as he joined an exclusive group of Lakers players with that kind of perfect shooting and rebounding outing.
- Luka Dončić contributed 25 points and seven assists, knocking down multiple three-pointers and orchestrating the offence.
- LeBron James added 24 points and seven assists, showing that even late in his career he remains a key contributor in big road games.
For the Raptors:
- Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 22 points and nine rebounds, fighting through contact and making plays on both ends.
- Sandro Mamukelashvili had a strong scoring night with 20 points, giving the Raptors a spark when they needed production off the bench.
- Brandon Ingram, a former Laker draftee, added 19 points and seven assists, showing good offensive execution even when the team as a whole went cold.
Toronto led briefly in the first quarter and hung tough through the half, but the Lakers’ depth and execution carried them to the home victory.
Where the Raptors Stand in the East
With this loss the Raptors moved to around 25 and 19 on the season, keeping them in the upper tier of the Eastern Conference, but not in first place at this stage. The East remains tight, and Toronto’s positioning depends on how they bounce back from back-to-back losses. To continue climbing the standings, the Raptors will need more consistent offence late in games, improved defensive stops in crunch time, and continued production from both the starters and the bench to match the scoring depth of teams like Los Angeles.
What Needs to Happen for the Raptors
There are several areas that stand out as key moving forward:
- Defensive intensity in the fourth quarter — Holding teams under control in the final period will be crucial in tight Eastern battles.
- Consistent outside shooting — Nights when three-point attempts aren’t falling make it harder to stay with deep teams on the road.
- Rotational health and bench contributions — Keeping bodies fresh and scoring balanced across the roster will help in a heavy schedule.
If the Raptors focus on these details, they can turn close games into wins and stay in the hunt for higher seeding.
Final Thoughts from a Long Time Fan
This one stung because Toronto showed flashes of being able to stay with a deep Lakers team, but couldn’t close it out. Scottie Barnes and Sandro Mamukelashvili showed why they are important contributors, and Brandon Ingram fought hard against his former draft franchise, but Los Angeles simply executed better down the stretch.
This loss isn’t a season changer, but it does highlight how important execution in late quarters is when vying for top spot in the East. The Raptors still have what it takes to compete; they just need to keep tightening things up late in games and stay confident as they push forward.
👏 Let’s Go Raptors 👏
