Raptors' preseason finale a showcase for players on roster bubble
Toronto sat its top nine rotation players, giving others a final chance to audition for roles or roster spots.
TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors' final preseason game was a showcase for players fighting for roster spots, with the team resting its top nine rotation players in a 129-125 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Toronto sat Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja'Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead and Jamison Battle, necessitated by the second night of a preseason back-to-back.
"I wanted to get out there and get tired, I still want to get in better shape," Leonard said after his preseason debut earlier in the week, but the team had already checked its boxes for its starters.
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The game provided a quality last chance for the back half of the training-camp roster to audition, and they trailed the Pistons' starters and full projected rotation by just seven points at halftime.
Rookie first-round pick Allen Graves, selected 19th overall, is a longer-term project but showed hustle with eight rebounds, seven of them offensive, and nine points despite shooting 4-for-13 from the floor and 0-for-5 from three-point range.
Six of his nine points came on putbacks, and his intuitive defensive playmaking was on display when he reacted to block Paul Reed.
Second-round pick Alijah Martin, who signed a two-year NBA contract this offseason and was named to the All-NBA G League Third Team last season, is the true next man up in Toronto's backcourt.
He led the team with 15 points in the first half, with physical finishes at the rim and bail-out step-back threes in isolation, and nearly completed a gargantuan slam from the free-throw line before a foul.
Guard Malachi Smith, the Raptors' lone player currently on a two-way contract, put on an impressive scoring display with a team-high 24 points, going 4-for-7 from deep and adding seven rebounds and three assists.
Rookie guard Jaden Bradley had five assists but also five turnovers, including some reckless and ill-advised passes.
Undrafted guard Nimari Burnett made a strong case for one of Toronto's two open two-way spots, scoring 17 points with five rebounds, two blocks and two steals, including hitting 3-of-7 from three-point range and backing down the larger Paul Reed on a bully drive.
The Raptors waived NBA champion Trey Jemison and another undrafted guard, Chucky Hepburn, following preseason injuries, potentially opening a door for Burnett.
Toronto's regular season begins on Wednesday, Oct. 23, against the Washington Wizards.
With files from Sportsnet