Scottie Barnes’ Optimism Can’t Mask Reserves’ Struggles

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 23, 2026 11:57 PM ET

The Toronto Raptors fell 120-98 to the Phoenix Suns in a lopsided loss. Several starters and bench players produced unusually poor numbers.

Key player performances

Brandon Ingram scored six points on 3-of-10 shooting. He added four rebounds, one assist and three blocks, but also committed five turnovers.

Jakob Poeltl played 17 minutes without recording a point or a rebound. That rare blank night intensified concerns about interior production.

Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jamal Shead combined for three made field goals on 14 attempts. Neither sank a three-pointer, going 0-of-8 from deep.

Both reserves have struggled lately. Shead had a 17-point outing versus Chicago, but otherwise his three-point output has faded.

The roster relies on perimeter makes. Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley shoot about 37 percent from three.

RJ Barrett converts roughly 34.5 percent. Scottie Barnes shoots near 29.4 percent from distance. Jakob Poeltl does not take threes.

Mamukelashvili provided dependable long-range shooting earlier in the season. He hit at least 37 percent from deep in every month except January.

In March he has cooled to 28.1 percent, making 9 of 32 attempts across ten games. Shead shot 46.2 percent from three in October.

He hovered near 33 percent in November, January and February. This month he has made only three triples.

Scottie Barnes offered public support after the loss. He stressed belief in Shead and Mamukelashvili and urged patience while they regain rhythm.

Barnes emphasized defense, attacking angles and a short memory for missed shots. His optimism helps, but reserves’ struggles remain a concern.

Coach Darko Rajakovic has begun to reward hot shooting. Ja’Kobe Walter shot 13 of 17 over five games.

That hot stretch appears to have earned Walter a spot in the playoff rotation. The Raptors still need reliable bench threes to contend.

Filmogaz.com coverage will monitor adjustments as Toronto prepares for the postseason. The club must balance optimism with tangible bench production.