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The Six Report · Morning

Eight Regulars Return as Raptors Close the Preseason Book

A finale loss in Detroit wraps the exhibition slate as Toronto reloads for Chicago.

Trayce Jackson-Davis23 points on 4-of-5 shooting, 15-of-16 from the line, in the preseason finale loss.
By the Raptors Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 17

Toronto's preseason ended the way much of it played out: close, scrambled, and decided late. The Raptors fell 125-129 to Detroit on Friday, and by Saturday the roster had already turned over again.

Trayce Jackson-Davis of the Raptors
Trayce Jackson-Davis. Photo: The Hoosier from Bloomington, IN, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A Long Night in Detroit

The finale swung through 18 lead changes and 13 ties before Detroit's bench closed it out at the free-throw line. Trayce Jackson-Davis carried Toronto's reserves with 23 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 15 of 16 free throws, and Nimari Burnett added 17 off the bench, but Isaac Jones's late putback and free throws settled it for the Pistons, 129-125.

A Name Joins the Mix

A day after the final buzzer, the Raptors added guard Jalen Celestine, a Canadian the club signed October 17, Sportsnet reported. He joins a 15-man payroll already running $202.5 million, above the $200.4 million luxury-tax line, with Kawhi Leonard's $50.3 million the largest number on the books.

Five Days to Chicago

None of Toronto's regulars played the finale: Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead and Ja'Kobe Walter are all listed day-to-day for rest, each with a return date of October 21, when the regular season opens at home against Chicago. The Raptors played three games in the past seven days and closed on a back-to-back; five days of rest should settle whether that group looks sharper than the reserves who just closed out the preseason without them. How Darko Rajakovic blends eight returning starters with a rotation that just logged heavy minutes is the question camp leaves unresolved.

When do the Raptors play their first regular-season game?

Toronto opens the regular season at home against the Chicago Bulls on October 21, 2026.

Who is Jalen Celestine?

Celestine is a Canadian guard the Raptors signed on October 17, adding depth as the regular season approaches.

By the Raptors Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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