When the Toronto Raptors face off against struggling teams, more often than not, they take care of business. That trend held true again Thursday night, as Toronto shook off a tough loss the night before and handled a retooling Chicago Bulls squad with a 123-107 win at Scotiabank Arena.
Let’s be clear - this wasn't a wire-to-wire blowout. The Bulls, featuring a handful of new faces, made things interesting for a stretch, especially in the third quarter when they caught fire from deep and briefly tied the game.
But the Raptors didn’t flinch. Brandon Ingram calmly responded with a three of his own, and a quick layup pushed the lead back to five.
From there, Toronto never looked back.
It was a bounce-back performance the Raptors needed after Wednesday’s collapse against Minnesota, where they coughed up an 18-point lead and lost by two in a game that had fans scratching their heads. This time, there was no fourth-quarter letdown. Instead, the Raptors leaned on their shot-making and depth to put away a Bulls team still trying to figure out its identity.
Ingram Ignites the Offense
Brandon Ingram was the engine behind Toronto’s offense, pouring in 33 points in a rhythm-heavy performance that felt effortless at times. Whether he was pulling up in transition or carving up defenders in the halfcourt, Ingram looked every bit the All-Star-caliber scorer he’s been known to be. He set the tone early and kept the Raptors steady when the Bulls made their push.
Sandro Mamukelashvili also gave the Raptors a big lift with 17 points, continuing his stretch of strong play. He’s been a valuable piece lately, showing he can provide scoring punch and energy off the bench.
Young Guns Stepping Up
Two of the Raptors’ youngest players made their presence felt in a big way. Rookie big man Collin Murray-Boyles turned in one of his most efficient games yet, scoring 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting, while adding five rebounds and four assists. His footwork in the post and ability to finish through contact stood out, and he continues to grow into his role as an interior presence.
Sophomore Ja’Kobe Walter, making his 10th start of the season, used the opportunity to show off his athleticism and speed in transition. He finished with 12 points and gave the Raptors some much-needed pace on both ends of the floor.
Quickley in Control
Immanuel Quickley led the team in scoring with 24 points and orchestrated the offense with poise. His ability to get into the lane and either finish or kick out to shooters has added a new dimension to Toronto’s attack. And on a night when the Raptors shot 56.3% from the field, Quickley’s decision-making was a key factor.
Bulls Debut New Faces
Chicago, meanwhile, is in the early stages of a roster shake-up, and it showed. Anfernee Simons made his Bulls debut and led the team with 22 points, while rookie Matas Buzelis added 18. There were flashes of promise, but cohesion is still a work in progress for this group.
The Bulls’ third-quarter surge - fueled by a barrage of three-pointers - briefly gave the home crowd something to worry about. But once Toronto responded, the game tilted back in the Raptors’ favor for good.
Injury Updates: Poeltl Progressing, Barrett Rested
The Raptors were once again without starting center Jakob Poeltl, who continues to work his way back from a back injury that’s kept him out since December 21. Head coach Darko Rajaković said Poeltl responded well to recent practice activity, and there’s hope he could return before the All-Star break. Thursday marked his 23rd straight missed game - and he's only played once in the last 26.
Also absent was RJ Barrett, who was held out for rest on the second night of the back-to-back. Barrett recently returned from a knee injury and isn’t yet cleared for consecutive games.
What’s Next
With the win, the Raptors improved to 20-7 against teams below .500 - a sign they’re taking care of business when they should. But the real test comes next week when conference-leading Detroit comes to town. Toronto’s record against winning teams (11-15) still leaves room for improvement, and that matchup will give them a chance to prove they can hang with the East’s elite.
For now, they’ll take the win, the growth of their young core, and the steady return to health as signs that things are trending in the right direction.