The Toronto Raptors are hitting a rough patch just when they need to be firing on all cylinders. Their recent 122-111 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans highlighted some ongoing struggles, and All-Star forward Brandon Ingram was candid about the team's current situation.
Ingram, who returned to a city where he spent six impactful seasons, delivered a solid performance with 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists. He even hit a significant career milestone by surpassing 11,000 points. Yet, his individual achievements were overshadowed by the Raptors' collective difficulties, as they've now lost six of their last eight games.
“We’re going through a little rough patch,” Ingram acknowledged post-game. “But I think that’s going to make us come together even more.
We just got to figure it out. Figure out what’s best for us offensively and defensively, and just play a little harder.”
This slump is proving costly in the tightly contested Eastern Conference. The loss dropped Toronto from the fifth seed to the seventh, trailing both the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat by a half-game. Despite Immanuel Quickley’s 25 points and a spirited effort from Scottie Barnes, the Raptors couldn't contain New Orleans’ dynamic duo of Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray.
Brandon Ingram on if the team is matching the urgency/intensity needed at this point of the season, where the standings are constantly changing:
— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) March 12, 2026
“We’re going through a little rough patch. But I think that’s going to make us come together even more. We just got to figure it out.… https://t.co/a3oWc4HE3d pic.twitter.com/5SevdZ3MXS
Murphy was on fire from beyond the arc, scoring 28 points on 5-of-8 shooting from deep, while Murray chipped in with 27 points to spoil Ingram's return. The Raptors struggled with their shooting efficiency, managing just 31.8 percent from three-point range compared to the Pelicans’ impressive 48.3 percent.
Toronto managed to cut an 18-point deficit to just two early in the fourth quarter, but a lapse in defensive intensity allowed the Pelicans to pull away with an 8-0 run. For a team with championship aspirations, the margin for error is shrinking fast. If Ingram and the Raptors don’t “figure it out” soon, they could find themselves battling just to avoid the Play-In tournament.