The Toronto Raptors' promising season is facing its stiffest test yet, not from an opponent, but from a relentless wave of injuries. Playing without four of their five projected starters, the Raptors succumbed to the Boston Celtics 125-117 on Friday, January 9, 2026, at TD Garden, exposing the precarious depth of their roster.
A Starting Lineup Decimated
For the first time this season, the Raptors were without both All-Star forward Brandon Ingram and franchise cornerstone Scottie Barnes. The duo joined an infirmary that already included key contributors, leaving the team without 80% of its intended starting unit. RJ Barrett later joined the casualty list, suffering an ankle injury in the game's final moments.
The mathematical reality is stark: no team can realistically expect to win consistently while missing that much firepower. Despite the odds, the short-handed Raptors showed fight, erasing an early double-digit deficit before ultimately falling. The loss extended Toronto's losing streak in Boston to eight games, a drought dating back to Barnes' rookie season.
Silver Linings and Emerging Talent
In the face of adversity, opportunity arose for the Raptors' youth. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles and second-year guard Ja'Kobe Walter were thrust into starting roles and responded admirably. Walter, in particular, showed promise against Boston's elite defense.
The second unit, led by the continued maturation of guard Jamal Shead, provided a significant spark. Alijah Martin seized his extended minutes, helping to keep the game competitive. Meanwhile, Sandro Mamukelashvili delivered a quietly efficient performance, shooting 70% from the field, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds, and committing zero turnovers.
This trio of young players—Walter, Murray-Boyles, and Shead—has given the Raptors a glimpse of a potential long-term bench nucleus, a silver lining in an otherwise frustrating injury spell.
Mounting Concerns and the Road Ahead
The injuries underscore the thin margin for error this Raptors team operates within. While sitting at a respectable seven games above .500 near the season's midway point—a position few anticipated—their hold is tenuous. The immediate challenge is a critical back-to-back set against the Philadelphia 76ers, who at 21-15 are close behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings.
The game also cast a harsh light on players who have failed to step up. Gradey Dick and Ochai Agbaji have become non-factors, with Agbaji receiving a DNP (Did Not Play) against Boston. With Agbaji on an expiring contract, his future with the franchise appears limited.
Statistically, the loss revealed familiar flaws. Despite outshooting Boston from three-point range, the Raptors' defense was porous, allowing the Celtics to shoot 54% from the field and 50% from deep. A poor start, a recurring issue, put Toronto in a hole they could not escape.
As the team approaches its 41st game on Monday, the glass remains half-full. Significant progress has been made this season. However, the NBA is a fickle league where fortune can change on a single play, a lesson the injury-ravaged Raptors are learning the hard way. The team's ability to weather this storm and integrate its emerging young talent will define its trajectory for the remainder of the season.
