Basketball – Brandon Sun

Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell, left, and Toronto Raptors forward Olivier Sarr, right, battle for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball preseason game Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Sarr scores game-winning layup to lift Raptors to 113-112 pre-season win over Wizards

The Canadian Press 1 minute read 5:04 PM CDT

WASHINGTON - Olivier Sarr scored the game-winning layup as time expired to lift the Toronto Raptors to a 113-112 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday in NBA pre-season action.

Immanuel Quickley led the way with 18 points while RJ Barrett added 15 and Scottie Barnes had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors (3-1), who won their third in a row.

CJ McCollum paced Washington (0-1) with 19 points.

With the Raptors ahead 111-104 and 2:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Wizards went on an 8-0 run capped by a pair of free throws from Will Riley of Kitchener, Ont., to take the lead with 0.8 seconds left.

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Mogbo helps Raptors finish rally with 107-105 pre-season win over Celtics

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Mogbo helps Raptors finish rally with 107-105 pre-season win over Celtics

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors, who trailed 63-42 at halftime and watched the visiting Boston Celtics close the second quarter on a 20-3 run, pulled off an entertaining pre-season comeback on Friday with a 107-105 decision.

Jonathan Mogbo's buzzer beater finished off an 18-2 Raptors run to record the thrilling NBA victory.

The teams were tied 103-103 with 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Wendell Moore Jr. scored a layup for the Celtics to make it a two-point game. David Roddy of the Raptors tied it at 105-105 with a layup of his own six seconds later.

Gradey Dick led the Raptors with 22 points and six rebounds, while Chucky Hepburn had 13 points and eight assists.

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Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick looks on during warms up of an NBA basketball pre-season game against the Sacramento Kings, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

LeBron James will miss opening night of his record 23rd NBA season due to sciatica

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

LeBron James will miss opening night of his record 23rd NBA season due to sciatica

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — LeBron James will miss opening night of his record 23rd NBA season due to sciatica that will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday.

The 40-year-old superstar will be sidelined at least until the end of October with sciatica — pain in the nerves running from the buttocks and down the back of the legs — on his right side.

James has yet to participate in a full practice since the Lakers opened training camp last week, and coach JJ Redick said James was “on his own timeline" Thursday after practice. An hour later, the Lakers announced an injury timeline that means James is likely to miss at least their first five or six games, and possibly several more.

The Lakers open the regular season at home Oct. 21 against Golden State. They have eight games in a 13-day span beginning Oct. 24.

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Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025

Los Angeles Lakers' Lebron James stands on the court before an NBA basketball preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Ingram scores 21, Raptors beat Kings 130-122 in NBA pre-season

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Ingram scores 21, Raptors beat Kings 130-122 in NBA pre-season

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025

SACRAMENTO - Brandon Ingram scored a game-high 21 points as the Toronto Raptors topped the Sacramento Kings 130-122 in their second NBA pre-season outing on Wednesday.

Ingram shot 7-of-15 from the floor, adding six rebounds and three assists with zero turnovers in 23 minutes.

Ja'Kobe Walter added 15 points, two rebounds and three assists off the bench, while Gradey Dick went 6-of-7 for 14 points in 15 minutes.

Star centre Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 19 points and four rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting.

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Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025

Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (8) dribbles by Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball pre-season game Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Toronto Raptors test Ingram, starters in Vancouver pre-season tilt

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Toronto Raptors test Ingram, starters in Vancouver pre-season tilt

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

VANCOUVER - The Toronto Raptors finally got a peek Monday at what their starting lineup could look like this season.

Brandon Ingram played his first game in a Raptors jersey as Toronto fell 112-108 to the Denver Nuggets in a pre-season tilt at Vancouver's Rogers Arena.

The Raptors picked up Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of last season's trade deadline, but the 28-year-old small forward was sidelined for the rest of the campaign as he worked his way back from an ankle sprain.

“Someone told me before the game that it’s been 303 days since his last game that he played. I’m just really, really happy for him that he has a chance to be on the court and play and compete," said Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic.

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Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

Toronto Raptors' Jonathan Mogbo, front right, dunks the ball as Scottie Barnes, left, and Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, back right, watch during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nuggets squeeze past Raptors 112-108 in NBA pre-season tilt in Vancouver

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Nuggets squeeze past Raptors 112-108 in NBA pre-season tilt in Vancouver

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

VANCOUVER - The Raptors' unbeaten streak at Rogers Arena came to a halt Monday night when the Denver Nuggets outlasted Toronto 112-108 in a pre-season game dubbed the 2025 NBA Canada Series.

Christian Braun scored 19 points for the Nuggets, who led 34-36 after the first quarter, 64-56 at halftime, and 94-88 heading into the final quarter.

Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ont., and Nikola Jokic each added 17 points for the Nuggets, who outrebounded the Raptors 48-38.

Canadian R-J Barrett and Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 19 points apiece, while Sandro Mamukelashvili chipped in with 15. The Raptors, who were 6-0 playing at Rogers Arena, couldn't make it seven straight despite a fourth-quarter rally.

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Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

Toronto Raptors' RJ Barrett, left, drives past Denver Nuggets' Julian Strawther, centre, in front of Toronto's Jonathan Mogbo, back right, during the first half of a pre-season NBA basketball game, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett buzzing for pre-season basketball

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett buzzing for pre-season basketball

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

VANCOUVER - RJ Barrett woke up early on Monday morning.

The prospect of once again playing a competitive NBA game spurred too much excitement for the Raptors star to sleep in.

"Man, I haven't played a game since, like, April," Barrett said after morning shoot-around at Vancouver's Rogers Arena.

The Raptors are on the West Coast for their first pre-season game against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.

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Monday, Oct. 6, 2025

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark, left, defends Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

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Sports Looking Back: Oct. 10, 2025

1 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

IN LOCAL HISTORY

• 40 YEARS AGO — Scott Webber caught a pass from Warren McBurney for a 105-yard touchdown as Souris beat Bossevain 21-14 in the RMFL.

• 30 YEARS AGO — Keith Vassell and Shawn Gray both hooped 20 points to lead the Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball team to a 99-87 win over their alumni.

• 10 YEARS AGO — Brandon Wheat King blue-liner Ivan Provorov had a towering presence lending him a hand this week. Kjell Samuelsson, the Philadelphia Flyers’ director of player development, spent the week with the team’s first pick in this year’s National Hockey League draft, watching his games and putting him through drills after practice.

Canada’s RJ Barrett unfazed by trade rumours and evolving role with Toronto Raptors

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada’s RJ Barrett unfazed by trade rumours and evolving role with Toronto Raptors

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025

RJ Barrett isn't fazed by his ever-changing role on the Toronto Raptors or even the rumours that he might be traded this season.

Barrett, from Mississauga, Ont., led the Raptors with 21.1 points per game in the 2024-25 campaign and was second on the team with an average of 5.4 assists over his 58 games. But with former NBA all-star Brandon Ingram joining the team this season and the rest of the starters all healthy as Toronto's training camp enters its third day, it can be expected that his responsibilities on the court will change.

On top of that, there's been speculation that Barrett — who has two seasons left on his current contract — might be trade bait. He was asked at Raptors media day on Monday about how he handles his ever-changing role and the trade rumours.

“I stay focused because I'm not just a one-dimensional player. I can do a little bit of everything. I think that's one of my superpowers," said Barrett at Hotel X in downtown Toronto. "Attacking and finishing, stuff like that, just different things. I want my game to be a little more improved than it was last year.

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Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025

Toronto Raptors' Brandon Ingram, right, shoots the basketball as RJ Barrett looks on during opening day of training camp in Calgary, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Gill to play familiar role for Bobcats

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Gill to play familiar role for Bobcats

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025

Write Munroop Gill off at your own risk.

The five-foot-11 guard from Surrey, B.C., is more than used to it. Often the smallest player on the floor, the Brandon University Bobcats rookie has scratched and clawed for every bucket and every opportunity in basketball.

It was that way long before he started playing organized hoops in high school.

“I’m the youngest of four brothers, so everything’s been a battle for me,” said the 18-year-old, who has brothers aged 26, 25 and 20. “I’ve been playing against grown men my whole life.

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Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025

Munroop Gill dribbles the ball up the floor during Brandon University men’s basketball practice on Wednesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Top draft pick Cooper Flagg flying at Dallas Mavericks training camp

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Top draft pick Cooper Flagg flying at Dallas Mavericks training camp

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2025

BURNABY - When Cooper Flagg stepped on the court Tuesday, he found himself shooting baskets alongside some of the NBA players he grew up idolizing.

Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson were all present alongside Flagg — the No. 1 pick in June's draft — as the Dallas Mavericks opened training camp at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.

"It's incredible," the 18-year-old rookie said of his new teammates. "I mean, I can learn so much just from being on the court and watching them play and just feeling out the spacing and the different things that they do. So it's been incredible being on the court with the guys like that."

Flagg fit right in as Dallas started its pre-season prep, Thompson said.

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Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2025

Dallas Mavericks' Dwight Powell shoots during a training camp session at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic says team must ‘win for all’ this season

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic says team must ‘win for all’ this season

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2025

TORONTO - Darko Rajakovic's mission has changed heading into his third season as head coach of the Toronto Raptors.

Expectations had been low for him and the Raptors his first two years patrolling the sideline, as then-president Masai Ujiri had signalled the franchise was in rebuild mode. But now, barring any midseason moves to gear up for a deep playoff drive, Toronto's roster appears to be deep and more or less complete.

That means Rajakovic's primary focus is no longer developing young players, but earning the Raptors their first post-season berth since a first-round exit in 2022.

"Entering this season, a big slogan for me is going to be ‘win for all,’" said Rajakovic on Monday at Toronto's media day. "Not just to win games, but to win for the community, to win for this country, to win for each other, to win for the man next to you.

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Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2025

Head Coach Darko Rajaković speaks to the media at the Toronto Raptors media day in Toronto on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder aim to defend their NBA title with familiar faces

Cliff Brunt, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder aim to defend their NBA title with familiar faces

Cliff Brunt, The Associated Press 4 minute read Monday, Sep. 29, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander knows the outside view of him and the Oklahoma City Thunder squad he leads have changed significantly in the past year.

Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and the Thunder are the defending NBA champions — firsts for both. Now, a team that rarely was seen beyond its local market last season has a schedule filled with national television appearances.

For all the new awards and attention, Gilgeous-Alexander is focused on what has remained the same. Most of the roster that won the title after a 68-14 regular season is intact. Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams and rising star Chet Holmgren all signed extensions in the offseason.

Gilgeous-Alexander hopes the familiar faces lead to familiar results. For that to happen, he believes that will require a familiar approach.

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Monday, Sep. 29, 2025

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, shoots against Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard during the second half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Brandon Ingram eager to start playing with Raptors after injury delays Toronto debut

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Brandon Ingram eager to start playing with Raptors after injury delays Toronto debut

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Monday, Sep. 29, 2025

TORONTO - Brandon Ingram doesn't want the validation of basketball fans.

He just wants to finally hit the court with his new Toronto Raptors teammates and confirm to himself that he still has what it takes to play in the NBA.

Ingram spoke at length about how eager he is to start playing in actual games at the Raptors media day on Monday. The small forward was sent to Toronto by the New Orleans Pelicans back in February ahead of the NBA's trade deadline but he never laced up for the Raptors as he recovered from a left ankle sprain.

"Rather than proving people wrong, it’s just proving to myself who I am," said Ingram at Hotel X in downtown Toronto. "Stepping into a new role, new teammates, new coaches, having the responsibility of being my best self every day and winning basketball games.

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Monday, Sep. 29, 2025

Brandon Ingram speaks at the Toronto Raptors media day in Toronto on Monday, September 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Raptors sign guard Jared Rhoden, finalize training camp roster

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Raptors sign guard Jared Rhoden, finalize training camp roster

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Friday, Sep. 26, 2025

TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Jared Rhoden, the team announced Friday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

With the signing, the Raptors have finalized their training camp roster which now stands at the maximum of 21 players.

The six-foot-five, 210-pound Rhoden averaged 8.4 points and 16.2 minutes in 14 games (two starts) with Charlotte and Toronto last season.

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Friday, Sep. 26, 2025

Philadelphia 76ers centre Andre Drummond (1) defends as Toronto Raptors guard Jared Rhoden (8) drives the ball up court during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

GM Bobby Webster preaches patience ahead of Toronto Raptors season

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

GM Bobby Webster preaches patience ahead of Toronto Raptors season

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Friday, Sep. 26, 2025

TORONTO - Like most Toronto Raptors fans, Bobby Webster is waiting to see how the 2025-26 season unfolds.

Webster spoke with media on Friday for the first time since replacing former president Masai Ujiri as the Raptors' head of basketball operations in June. Although head coach Darko Rajakovic is returning for a third year and most of last year's roster is still in place, Webster wouldn't put any expectations on the upcoming season.

"I think the talent level is high but we still have to see the fit and I think that’s what everybody is probably waiting to see and has been waiting for a while," said Webster during a 20-minute news conference at OVO Athletic Centre.

"We’re waiting right there with you."

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Friday, Sep. 26, 2025

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