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TORONTO – Sandro Mamukelashvili took the advice of his new Toronto Raptors teammates and coaching staff to shoot the basketball more.
The 26-year-old from Georgia contributed 15 points to Toronto’s 128-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks before an announced 18,357 at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.
Mamukelashvili helped the Raptors (4-4) extend their win streak to three games by nailing a trio of three-point jumpers.
The six-foot-nine, 246-pound Mamukelashvili also grabbed seven rebounds, including four on the offensive boards, while playing a season-high 23 minutes.
“I want to earn the minutes and prove that I deserve the minutes,” Mamukelashvili said.
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“I’m excited. I feel my teammates and the coaching staff trust my shot. I’m getting there.”
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Mamukelashvili, in his fifth NBA season, signed a two-year contract in the off-season after a stint with the San Antonio Spurs.
“I’ve only shown in spurts in my [first] four years in the NBA,” said Mamukelashvili, who is quick for his size.
He remarked that he’s a different player in North America than his role as a leader of the Georgian national team.
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“Sandro is a good rebounder, a good offensive rebounder,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “He’s just getting more comfortable. It was a step in the right direction.”
Mamukelashvili’s strong outing coincided with centre Jakob Poeltl’s return after a three-game absence with a lower-back ailment.
Poeltl started and was healthy enough to play 20 minutes. He scored eight points and led the Raptors with nine rebounds.
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“I’m still away from feeling 100 per cent,” Poeltl said. “There were certain times it stiffened up on me, but I’m happy with the way I managed it. It was a positive experience.”
A healthy Poeltl is significant to the Raptors’ success.
“Jakob looked more mobile and aggressive,” Rajakovic said.
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BARNES SCARE
The Raptors averted serious injury when Scottie Barnes returned for the second half after a brief stay in the locker room.
He suffered a strained left thumb late in the second half, but matched RJ Barrett with a game-high 23 points.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
