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Darko Rajakovic isn’t easing into this pre-season.
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The new head coach of the Toronto Raptors went right to what is likely to be his starting lineup in the first exhibition Sunday night in Vancouver and had to be pleased with the 112-99 win over the Sacramento Kings that followed.
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With the focus on leaving some selfishness from last season behind for good, that kind of result right out of the gate is encouraging.
Rajakovic’s starting five for the night were Scottie Barnes, Dennis Schroder, O.G. Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl.
Gary Trent Jr., the other potential starter on this roster, was the first man off the bench as Schroder picked up three early fouls. Trent wound up playing 21 minutes, tied for the most on the roster, and led the team in scoring with 22 points on 7-for-12 makes, including 3-for-6 from distance.
Barnes seemed comfortable as the primary option with 15 points in 18 minutes. He got to the line a team-high seven times and made five of them.
O.G. Anunoby, who projects to be a bigger part of the offence this season, got off to a great start to the year, making six of his seven attempts for 14 points in his 20 minutes of work.
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It was the first of four exhibition games the Raptors will play before they open the regular season on Oct. 25 at home versus Minnesota.
Next up on the exhibition schedule is a game with the Cairns Taipans next Sunday at Scotiabank Arena.
mganter@postmedia.com
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