On March 11, the Toronto Raptors suffered an embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Losing by double digits to a team 24 games below .500 was bad enough, but with 1:24 remaining in a decided game, Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray did this to Jamal Shead:
Dejounte Murray hits the 3 late in the 4th quarter, as Jamal Shead falls to the floor, and Murray leans over Shead, having some words for him (with replays)
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) March 12, 2026
Dejounte received a technical foul upon review
Also on YouTube:https://t.co/B4vU0rxgHh pic.twitter.com/L8WYCXOZgN
Immediately after the play, Raptors players were seen casually walking up the court as Murray danced away. Immanuel Quickley exchanged some words with Murray, but the team as a whole did not rally around Shead. They were not a united front.
Before the Raptors’ next game against the Phoenix Suns, Michael Grange asked head coach Darko Rajaković about the moment. His response was clear: "They know that that was not the true picture and image of our team, and they all agree on that. They know that it's never going to happen again."
It was a strong message from the Raptors’ head coach. And it did not take long for that message to be put to the test.
An immediate response
In the first quarter against Phoenix, Suns wing Grayson Allen was called for a flagrant foul on RJ Barrett.
This time, the Raptors responded differently.
Quickley, Ja'Kobe Walter, and Jakob Poeltl were immediately by Barrett’s side. Nothing escalated, Allen was apologetic and was later seen smiling with Barrett, but the Raptors showed they were together.
That togetherness is all fans needed to see. No one wants a major altercation. Fans simply want to see their team stand up for one another.
Judging the second response
It is easy to forget that this Raptors core has never played meaningful basketball together before. This group is experiencing many “firsts” as they build chemistry.
That means mistakes will happen.
Their reaction against New Orleans was one of those mistakes. The players and coaches discussed the moment afterward and made it clear that it was not how the team should respond.
When the next opportunity came, the Raptors handled it differently.
That shows growth.
It shows culture.
And it shows a team that is listening to its coach.
The road ahead will only get more physical
As the season winds down, every game will mean more. When the stakes rise, the game inevitably becomes more physical. The playoffs will further amplify that physicality.
That is why moments like this matter.
It is a good sign for Raptors fans that the team showed growth after the incident against New Orleans. The Raptors will have many more opportunities to prove that growth down the stretch of the season.