TORONTO — When Darko Rajakovic was asked for an update on injured offensive dynamo RJ Barrett ahead of the Toronto Raptors' third straight loss on Sunday, the head coach promised an update later this week.
Judging by the way Barrett hobbled outside the Raptors locker room after his team's 121-113 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the Canadian needs more time to rehab his sprained right knee.
Whether the news is good or bad about the 25-year-old Barrett's health, the rest of his teammates know they have to figure out how to win without him. The Raptors have lost five of their last eight games without the Mississauga, Ont. standout and five of their last six without Barrett.
“Getting used to playing without someone who averages 20 points and is the real center of our offense (isn't easy),” Toronto guard Jamal Sheed said. “Getting used to trying to get other people to act, I think we can do it. We just haven't figured it out yet.”
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Nobody stepped up for the Raptors in the first half of their game against the Celtics. After two quarters the visitors had a whopping 77-59 lead. The second half was different, with players like Sheed, Ochai Agbaji and AJ Lawson of Brampton, Ont., starting to contribute off the bench.
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Sheed and Agbaji hit 3-pointers late in the third quarter. Lawson hit another 3-pointer early in the fourth as the Raptors overcame a 23-point deficit to take their first lead on Sheed's layup with 10:39 left.
Agbaji finished the season with a season-high 11 points, his first double-digit scoring performance of the 2025–26 season.
“They need to step up and help the team because we need every player on this team to come on the court, contribute and continue to work,” Rajakovic said. “We know how to achieve it. We will work at it and we will achieve it.”
A poor first half left Rajakovic scratching his head. The 77 first-half points were the most Toronto had given up in half this season.
“We all know who RJ is and what he brings to us,” Rajakovic said. “He's a very important player for us offensively, but I don't want to look at it that way. He's not here.”
“We have to figure it out. We have a more than capable team. We have a lot of talent.”
The Raptors host the New York Knicks on Tuesday for their fifth and final home game. Not only is it the NBA Cup quarterfinals, but the Raptors will also be looking to avenge their 116-94 loss at Madison Square Garden without Barrett on Nov. 30.
“Personally, I would say throw everything else out the window,” said Brandon Ingram, who led Toronto with 30 points on the anniversary of his season-ending left ankle injury. “We are going through a short period when things are not going the way we wanted.
“But we have to just remember what happened to us in New York, remember that feeling. The most important thing is to just clear our minds. None of us like to lose, none of us like to be in that situation, so we just have to come in with a clear mind.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
