Raptors Ride Balanced Attack, Late Ingram Jumper to Hold Off Jazz
The Toronto Raptors leaned on a well-rounded offensive effort and a timely bucket from Brandon Ingram to edge out the Utah Jazz, 107-100, on Sunday night. It was a gritty, back-and-forth contest that saw the Raptors snap a two-game skid and match their win total from last season at 30 - and there’s still plenty of basketball left to play.
Let’s start with the headliners. RJ Barrett led the charge with 21 points, Sandro Mamukelashvili chipped in a career-high 20, and Ingram added 19, including the dagger - a smooth 15-foot jumper with just 38 seconds left that all but iced the game. Immanuel Quickley also played a key role in orchestrating the offense, and while his stat line didn’t lead the box score, his impact was felt in the flow and pace of Toronto’s attack.
The Raptors didn’t just win - they earned it. They entered the fourth quarter up by two and gradually built that lead to seven, never letting the Jazz get closer than five the rest of the way. It was the kind of closeout performance that has eluded them at times this season, but this time, they finished the job.
Barnes’ All-Star Nod, and a Scare
Scottie Barnes was named to his second NBA All-Star Game just as the game tipped off - a well-deserved recognition for a player who’s taken another leap this season. But the night wasn’t without a scare.
Barnes came up limping after a hard collision with Utah big man Jusuf Nurkic in the fourth quarter. He initially stayed in the game, then briefly exited before returning to help close things out.
The Raptors will certainly be monitoring him closely, but his quick return was an encouraging sign.
Ingram’s Resilience on Display
While Barnes got the All-Star nod, Ingram’s omission raised a few eyebrows. He’s been playing at an All-Star level - and more importantly, he’s been available.
After appearing in just 18 games last season (none after being acquired by Toronto), Ingram has suited up for 49 of the Raptors’ 51 games this year. That’s a huge turnaround for a player whose previous three seasons were marred by injuries.
He didn’t come out firing against Utah, missing six of his first eight shots, but he found his rhythm midway through the game and came up clutch when it mattered most. That midrange jumper in the final minute was vintage Ingram - smooth, confident, and perfectly timed.
Jazz Go Cold from Deep
Utah was led by Lauri Markkanen’s 27 points, but the Jazz simply couldn’t buy a bucket from beyond the arc. They shot just 22.9% from three-point range, and that inefficiency from deep proved costly in a game where every possession mattered. The Raptors’ defense deserves some credit for that - they closed out hard, rotated well, and didn’t give Utah many clean looks.
Trade Deadline Looms, But Raptors Stay Locked In
With the trade deadline just days away, this is one of the most mentally taxing stretches of the NBA calendar. Rumors swirl, phones buzz, and uncertainty hangs over locker rooms. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic addressed it pregame, emphasizing the importance of staying present.
“It’s real. It’s there,” Rajakovic said. “But from Day 1, we agreed to block out the noise and focus on what we can control.”
That mindset will be tested this week. The Raptors have one of their busiest stretches of the season ahead - practice days Monday and Tuesday, back-to-back home games Wednesday and Thursday, possibly another practice Saturday, and then another game Sunday.
It’s a lot. But maybe that’s a good thing.
Staying busy might be the best way to stay grounded.
After that, a break is coming - just one more game remains before the All-Star pause. For now, though, the Raptors are focused on stacking wins, building chemistry, and seeing what this new-look roster can do down the stretch.
Sunday night was a good step in that direction.