{"id":928666,"date":"2026-10-11T05:56:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T05:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/928666\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T05:56:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T05:56:24","slug":"nbas-still-a-hit-in-vancouver-and-heres-what-the-raptors-said-about-it-daily-hive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/928666\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA’s still a hit in Vancouver and here’s what the Raptors said about it | Daily Hive"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Toronto Raptors took their show on the road, and it was once again a slam dunk in Vancouver.<\/p>\n

The Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers played in front of a sold-out crowd<\/a> of 18,872 at Rogers Arena Saturday afternoon. The pro-Raptors crowd went home happy, as Toronto was victorious 114-106.<\/p>\n

Kawhi Leonard was in attendance but didn\u2019t play. He instead sat on the bench in street clothes, as the Raptors patiently get him back into game shape.<\/p>\n

\"kawhi<\/p>\n

Kawhi Leonard didn\u2019t play. (Rob Williams\/Offside)<\/p>\n

That didn\u2019t seem to dampen the enthusiasm, as the crowd gave regular-season energy for the preseason affair.<\/p>\n

While the Raptors get a warm welcome wherever they go in Canada, there does seem to be a special bond with Vancouver in particular. The Raptors have played in Vancouver three of the last four years, and seven times since 2012.<\/p>\n

Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovi\u0107 said it was worth the long flight from Toronto.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re super happy to be here,\u201d Rajakovi\u0107 said post-game. \u201cThis time I brought my family with me because I was raving [about] how great a city Vancouver is, and every time when I come over here, I get even more surprised.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I\u2019m really surprised [by] is how beautiful [the] weather is over here. Every time when we come, it\u2019s sunny and everybody\u2019s talking about rain, but I never seen it rain. We\u2019re gonna keep coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The players were impressed with the fan support.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was great. It felt like a regular home game, honestly,\u201d said Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley, who scored 18 points in over 19 minutes of playing time. \u201cEven being in the arena, it looks like Scotiabank [Arena] a little bit, and the fans are just great. It was a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was appropriate that Canadian RJ Barrett scored a game-high 20 points in over 23 minutes of playing time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s cool to be kind of Canada\u2019s team,\u201d Barrett said. \u201cEvery time, whether it\u2019s Quebec or here or Calgary, the fans are supporting. It\u2019s sold out everywhere we go. It\u2019s amazing to have the support from them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vancouver Grizzlies content<\/p>\n

Shareef Abdur-Rahim made a surprise appearance, returning to the city where he played for five seasons, as a star for the Vancouver Grizzlies. The 49-year-old was shown on the big screen and got a huge ovation from the crowd.<\/p>\n

He was clearly touched by the reception.<\/p>\n

Nice ovation for Vancouver Grizzlies legend Shareef Abdur-Rahim pic.twitter.com\/An99pUzSvh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) October 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so special for me because Vancouver has been and is such a special place for me and my growth as a person,\u201d Abdur-Rahim said in a television interview with TSN\u2019s Raegan Subban. \u201cI came here as a really young kid, and then the team left. But to know that the people of Vancouver still feel that way about me is really special. It made me feel really good.\u201d<\/p>\n

You might also like:Ticket prices soaring for Raptors’ visit to Vancouver this weekend<\/a>
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