Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said Thursday night’s 123-120 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers hinged on defensive lapses in the first half and key execution in late-clock situations.
He noted that the team did a good job of moving the ball and finding open players against double-teams in the post but missed a critical layup in the final possession, adding that whether contact occurred “was not very important.”
Rajakovic praised Brandon Ingram for creating the shot he wanted in isolation, emphasizing the team’s trust in him in late-game situations. He said Ingram also facilitated well with seven assists, despite the clock forcing rushed decisions.
The Raptors produced 39 assists and 120 points, but Rajakovic said the real issue was defensive, allowing the Lakers 40 points in the paint in the first half. He noted the defense tightened in the second half, holding Los Angeles to 18 paint points.
He highlighted Scottie Barnes’ performance on LeBron James, forcing the veteran into a 4-for-17 shooting night that ended James’ streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with at least 10 points. Rajakovic credited Barnes and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles for gaining valuable experience against elite competition.
The coach also discussed Austin Reaves, saying certain scorers “are going to get more calls than some other players,” and stressed teaching defenders to avoid fouling while creating space. He singled out Ja’Kobe Walter for disciplined play in the fourth quarter.
Rajakovic applauded the contributions from young rotation players stepping in for RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and Ochai Agbaji, calling it “amazing” for their growth against a championship-contending team.
He explained that closing the game with Walter versus Jamal Shead was a tough choice, ultimately favoring Shead for his floor organization and spacing. Rajakovic dismissed fatigue concerns despite a condensed schedule, stating, “This is NBA… there is another game tomorrow.”
Toronto will return home Friday to face Charlotte, looking to improve defensive execution and late-game execution.
