Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said execution issues cost his team a chance to close out Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. “We had a lead with 3 minutes and 4 seconds to go, 109-102, and we did not score there to finish the fourth quarter. We turned the ball over a couple of times and did not execute good enough,” he said.
Rajakovic pointed to the Clippers’ physical defense as a factor in late-game struggles. “I thought their physicality was a lot of times with hands, illegal grabbing and holding. We were not able to get the ball where we wanted to get the ball,” he said.
He also noted the challenge of missing key backcourt players. “It’s hard to play without two point guards out there. Tonight it was one of those games that went their way. It was an overtime game, competitive, fans got to enjoy it, but it didn’t go our way,” Rajakovic said.
The Raptors’ offense struggled under defensive pressure on star Brandon Ingram. “We had a tough time getting the ball to Brandon, especially with Kris Dunn defending. There’s good film to watch; we needed to execute better to get him to the spots easier,” he added.
Rajakovic praised individual performances despite the loss. “Gradey Dick played with more confidence and energy, his defense improved as he made shots. Jamal Shead had a career-high in assists and did a good job driving both sides of the ball, touching the paint, and playmaking,” he said.
He emphasized Shead’s growing ability to read the game without the ball. “He continues to improve in open court, getting guys in the right spots. Defensively, his tenacity in guarding the ball is the help we see every night,” Rajakovic said.
Toronto led for most of the game but lost after James Harden’s personal 8-0 run in the final minutes forced overtime. Scottie Barnes scored 24 points and Ingram added 19, but critical turnovers and missed opportunities allowed Los Angeles to extend its winning streak to five games.
The Raptors, now 25-18, will begin a five-game Western road trip at the Lakers on Sunday. Rajakovic highlighted the need for better late-game execution moving forward. “We need to do a better job protecting our home court and executing in crucial moments,” he said.
