NEW #Survivor51 Vodcast! (SPOILERS for episode 5 🚨) Credit to the REAL mastermind behind the biggest move of the season, so far, and a fun gambit that was worth trying early in the Open Era.

An early-season reality check: Kawhi is going to miss games this season and the Raptors need to be better prepared for it than they were tonight. Not having him (even on late notice) can’t be an excuse. It’s part of the experience:

Hopefully this is an early-season wakeup call for the Raptors. Minnesota is a really good team and they didn't have Kawhi, but they're gonna need to beat really good teams without Kawhi (or at least compete harder/better than that). Starts with Scottie and extends to the rest.

Unless Barnes gets back in, and he shouldn't in a 30-point game, this will be the second time he's been held scoreless. The first was in April of 2023. He was 0-for-7 in 29 minutes. 0-for-12 in 27 minutes tonight.

The list of bright spots is alarmingly low tonight, but Ja'Kobe Walter and the rookie Allen Graves undoubtedly top it. Can't say it for most of the other guys, but they came to play.

LaMelo Ball picks up his 4th foul 32 seconds into the 2nd half. 4 fouls in 5 minutes tonight. Big break for the Raptors, considering he also has 8 points in those 5 minutes.

Again I say: RJ Barrett is not expendable

Big reason the Raptors are back in this game (down 8 at half), despite the early shooting woes, is they're winning the possession battle. They have 12 more shot attempts than Minnesota. Raptors forced 12 turnovers in the 1st half, have now forced 62 in 10 quarters this season.

Rare scoreless half for Scottie Barnes. 0 points, 0-for-9 in 10 minutes. The 9 shot attempts are the most he's ever taken in a scoreless half. Good news is the 3s are starting to fall. After starting 2-for-12, the Raptors have hit 5 of 7 and are within 8 points at halftime.

Good, active minutes from Graves. A corner-3 on one end (his first as a pro) and a steal on the other. Picked up 3 fouls in 5 minutes, though. First-half minutes for Alijah Martin!

Kawhi's shooting will help and his gravity should create better looks for everybody else, but I'm still skeptical about the Raptors' 'take more 3s' plan. Just not enough shooting on this roster.

Raptors were outscored 18-3 from 3-point range in the 1st quarter. Minnesota shooting 6-for-8 from distance. Toronto 1-for-10. Barrett has 11 of the Raps' 21 points. He's shooting 5-for-7. Everybody else: 4-for-22. Barnes 0-6 FG and scoreless in 8 minutes. Wolves by 11.

RJ understands the assignment. He's got 11 of the Raptors' first 15 points.

Gobert opens the scoring for Minnesota and, 51 seconds into their third game, the Raptors trail for the first time this season. Barnes gets the Ant Edwards assignment out of the gate. Quickley on Ball. Walter on McDaniels.

More on RJ Barrett’s contractual situation and how he’s handling his uncertain future for the @TSN_Sports pre-game show:

Kawhi Leonard is a late scratch for tonight’s game in Minnesota. He’s OUT with left knee swelling. Would imagine Walter starts in his place.