2 Heroes and 3 Zeroes from Raptors' exhausted loss to Timberwolves

Ochai Agbaji was a Hero

Perhaps the most unexpected development of this early season has been the readiness of Ochai Agbaji to start games and make a positive difference. After bouncing around the league as a ho-hum defender and ice-cold shooter, Agbaji was been something of a lockdown wing for the Raptors. He was elite in the win over the 76ers and very solid on Saturday night, even in a loss.

On offense Agbaji again came through, shooting 8-for-12 from the field and scoring 19 points, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range. He had a pair of steals and a pair of assists, both positives for him, and he generally looks confident out on the court. Is he merely experiencing a mini hot streak and will he fade into the depths of the rotation once everyone is healthy? Perhaps, but for now he looks like a legitimate NBA wing, and that's not something anyone would have said after watching him close the season in Toronto last season.

Jonathan Mogbo was a Zero

A common denominator runs through the Raptors' first two losses: they have few answers against teams with lots of size and length. Against the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers, who didn't play a backup center and who started Kyle Lowry and Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt, the Raptors thrived. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, the Raptors were strangled.

The perfect illustration of this was the impact of Jonathan Mogbo against the Wolves. He was the breakout star of the 76ers win, playing smallball center and flying around the court making plays on offense and defense. Against the much larger Timberwolves he had no answers, shooting just 1-for-3 from the field and snaring just three rebounds and zero blocks. He did have two steals, but his energy was lower and his undersized frame more pronounced against a matchup he isn't yet equipped to overcome.

The Raptors get a day off to breathe and then host the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.