TORONTO — Sandro Mamukelashvili took the advice of his new Toronto Raptors teammates and coaching staff to shoot the basketball more.
The 26-year-old from Georgia scored 15 points in Toronto's 128-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks and was announced Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena with 18,357 points.
Mamukelashvili helped the Raptors (4-4) extend their winning streak to three games with a trio of 3-pointers.
The six-foot-nine, 246-pound Mamukelashvili also grabbed seven rebounds, including four offensively, while playing a season-high 23 minutes.
“I want to earn minutes and prove that I deserve them,” Mamukelashvili said.
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“I'm excited. I feel like my teammates and coaching staff trust my shot. I'm getting there.”
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Mamukelashvili, in his fifth NBA season, signed a two-year contract this offseason after a stint with the San Antonio Spurs.
“I showed only jerks in my [first] four years in the NBA,” said Mamukelashvili, who is fast for his size.
He noted that he is a different player in North America than his role as the leader of the Georgian team.
“Sandro is a good rebounder, a good offensive rebounder,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “He just feels more comfortable. It was a step in the right direction.”
Mamukelashvili's strong outing coincided with the return of center Jakob Poeltl after a three-game absence due to a lower back problem.
Poeltl started and was healthy enough to play 20 minutes. He scored eight points and led the Raptors with nine rebounds.
“I'm still a long way from feeling 100 percent,” Poeltl said. “There were times when it was stressful for me, but I'm happy with how I managed to do it. It was a positive experience.”
A healthy Poeltl is essential to the Raptors' success.
“Jacob looked more agile and aggressive,” Rajakovic said.
BARNES IS SCARY
The Raptors averted a major injury when Scottie Barnes returned for the second half after a short stint in the locker room.
He suffered a sprained left thumb late in the second half, but tied RJ Barrett with 23 points.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
