2 Raptors Reserves’ Monster Stat Lines Give Toronto Options

Nov 6, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (1) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Herro (11) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Jimmy VikFriday night in Milwaukee belonged to two Raptors who rarely get the spotlight. Alijah Martin scored a career-high 27 points, and Jamal Shead handed out a career-high 16 assists as Toronto, missing three of their top four players, beat the Bucks 121-107 in an NBA Cup game. The Raptors reserves turned a 14-point deficit into a win, and the night said a lot about where both players stand in Toronto’s plans.The performance fit a theme from earlier this month, when we looked at the kind of bench shooting needed in Toronto, and Martin delivered it. Shead delivered something just as valuable: steadiness at the point of attack. For a team that is now 5-4 and dealing with injuries to Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Kawhi Leonard, that matters.Alijah Martin: From the 39th Pick to a Career NightNov 6, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Alijah Martin (55) reacts after scoring a 3-point play in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesMartin’s path to this game was not a quick one. He helped Florida Atlantic reach the Final Four in 2023, then won a national championship with Florida in 2025, and Toronto took him 39th overall that summer. He signed a two-way contract and spent most of his rookie year split between the Raptors and Raptors 905, appearing in 23 NBA games and averaging 6.3 minutes and 2.2 points.In July, he signed a two-year, $4.8 million standard contract and became the first Florida Atlantic player in program history to land a standard NBA deal. On Friday, he scored 27 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-7 from three, in 29 minutes off the bench. That is more than half of the 51 points he scored in his entire rookie season.He did most of his damage when Toronto needed it. Martin scored a career-high 11 points in the first quarter while playing under eight minutes, and his three-pointer with 5:41 left in the third quarter gave the Raptors their first lead of the game. His fifth three capped a 5-0 run to open the fourth.What It Means for MartinThe immediate takeaway is shooting. The Raptors went 5-of-21 from three at halftime on Friday, and Martin was responsible for much of the production that kept them close. If he can show that kind of confidence when he gets the ball, he gives Darko Rajakovic a reserve guard who can punish defenses that collapse on drives.The caution is the sample. One 27-point night does not turn a rotation player into a lock, and when the starters return, minutes will tighten again. Still, he now has a game that Rajakovic cannot forget.Jamal Shead: Assists, Trust and a New ContractShead came into the night with a three-year extension in his pocket, signed Oct. 1, and he played like a player who has earned it. He started in place of Quickley, who was out with a hamstring injury, and had nine assists in the first half without a turnover. His first turnover came with 1:49 left in the third quarter, one possession after he tied his career high with his 14th assist.He finished with 10 points, three rebounds, 16 assists and two steals, with a game-best plus-23. His previous high was 14 assists in a March win over the Utah Jazz. It was also his sixth straight game with at least six assists, and he is averaging 6.6 per game despite playing under 25 minutes in all but two of his nine appearances.What It Means for SheadThe Raptors have used the starting lineup like a rotating door since Leonard went down, from Ja’Kobe Walter, who stepped into Leonard’s starting spot, to Shead in Quickley’s place. Shead’s value is that the offense kept moving when he ran it. The challenge is scoring: he shot 4-of-10 and made one three, and defenses will keep leaving him open until that changes.For a player whose role grew with his contract, Friday made the case that he can handle a bigger share of the minutes without losing what makes him effective.How Raptors Reserves Helped Toronto WinThe Bucks led by as much as 14 in the first quarter, and Toronto outscored them 70-47 in the second half. The comeback also came two days after the Raptors were outscored 41-15 in the third quarter by the Denver Nuggets, so the response mattered. RJ Barrett also scored 27, Jakob Poeltl had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Collin Murray-Boyles added 19. Milwaukee fell to 1-8, and it was the Raptors’ fourth straight win over the Bucks.What Comes NextToronto hosts Memphis on Monday, a week after the Raptors’ comeback win over the Clippers, and the injury report will decide how much of the load Martin and Shead keep. If Quickley returns soon, Shead goes back to a reserve role and Martin’s minutes may shrink. If the absences continue, both players will keep getting chances to repeat Friday’s production.The Last WordCareer nights for Raptors reserves are easy to dismiss when the opponent is a 1-8 team. They matter more here because both players filled a need. Martin showed the shooting Toronto has lacked, and Shead showed he can run the offense without giving it away. The upside is a deeper rotation that can survive injuries and an extra option for Rajakovic when the starters are back. The risk is overreacting to one game. Martin and Shead will have to repeat it against better defenses, but they have given the Raptors reserves a case for more minutes, and the coach will have a hard time ignoring it.Featured Image: Benny Sieu-Imagn ImagesMore NBA News:Scoot Henderson Has Become A Worrying Trail Blazers Problem6 EuroLeague Teams Joining NBA Europe Could Be A RealityLuka Doncic Matches Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain Marks; Case for First MVP Strengthens