The Toronto Raptors came into Madison Square Garden riding high off a 4-1 West Coast swing, looking like a team starting to find its rhythm. But against the New York Knicks, that momentum hit a wall. The Raptors controlled the first half, but the second half told a very different story - one where hot Knicks shooting, defensive breakdowns, and offensive overreliance unraveled everything Toronto had built.
This game marked yet another stumble for the Raptors against elite competition - they’re now 1-9 against the league’s top-tier teams. And that record isn’t just a number; it’s a reflection of deeper issues, particularly on the offensive end. When the pressure ratchets up, Toronto’s scoring attack too often sputters.
At the center of that offensive conundrum is Brandon Ingram - a player whose presence on the court is as puzzling as it is impactful.
Let’s break it down.
The Ingram Paradox
Ingram’s time in Toronto has been defined by contradictions. He’s a calming presence, a player who brings structure and confidence to the floor.
He plays with poise, he respects the game, and his teammates clearly feed off his energy. But somehow, the Raptors often perform better when he’s off the floor.
That’s not a knock on his talent - it’s a reflection of how the team’s offense changes when he becomes the focal point.
Take his isolation numbers, for example. Ingram is averaging 0.78 points per possession in isolation - that ranks 25th out of 26 players who isolate at least three times per game.
Only Ja Morant has been less efficient in those spots. That’s not the kind of production you can build an offense around, especially against top-tier defenses like New York’s.
And yet, when Ingram checks in during the second quarter, he immediately makes an impact. He draws free throws, forces a turnover by trapping Jalen Brunson, grabs an offensive board, and finishes at the rim with a slick move that leaves OG Anunoby in the dust.
Then he drills a three to force a timeout. He’s steady, confident, and composed - all the things you want in a veteran scorer.
At halftime, he’s 4-of-8 from the field and the most efficient Raptor on the floor. His presence is stabilizing, even as the rest of the roster goes cold. Scottie Barnes is doing his part defensively, locking down Brunson, and Toronto heads into the break with a narrow lead.
A Stretch of Brilliance - Then the Collapse
The third quarter starts with more of the same from Ingram. He opens with a smooth runner, then runs a high pick-and-roll, gets into Anunoby’s body, and fades left for a bucket.
He hits another three, tips a pass on an inbound to force a turnover, then gets to the line again. For a few minutes, it’s vintage Ingram - efficient, unselfish, and in full control of the game.
But that control doesn’t last.
The Raptors start forcing the ball to him. The Knicks adjust, and Toronto doesn’t.
Turnovers pile up. The offense stagnates.
Ingram, now the focal point of every possession, gives up a blow-by layup to Anunoby, misses an isolation jumper, and loses his man on a backdoor cut. The Knicks capitalize, turning a close game into a double-digit lead.
Head coach Darko Rajaković didn’t mince words after the game: “When someone denies you, you need to go on a backdoor cut. You cannot force feed somebody… We gotta be able to find [Ingram] on some cuts and movements, but if not there, we don’t have to force it.”
That quote says a lot. The Raptors' offense became too predictable, too dependent.
Ingram is the security blanket - but sometimes, that blanket gets too warm. It becomes a crutch.
And when the game demands improvisation, movement, and variety, Toronto’s attack can look stuck in the mud.
The Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story - But They Matter
By the end of the third quarter, Ingram has the lowest plus-minus on the team. That stat doesn’t always paint the full picture - and in this case, it’s misleading in some ways.
Ingram was Toronto’s best scorer, their most consistent offensive option. He finished with 27 efficiency points and threw some dazzling passes to try to ignite a comeback.
But the Raptors couldn’t get stops. They couldn’t string together enough clean possessions. And when the offense turned into a one-man show, the Knicks pounced.
The Bigger Picture
This game wasn’t an indictment of Ingram, nor of the Raptors as a whole. In many ways, it was a showcase of what makes Ingram such a compelling - and confounding - player.
He gives the Raptors structure, identity, and confidence. But in trying to lean too heavily on that structure, Toronto sometimes loses the fluidity and unpredictability that makes modern offenses thrive.
It’s a paradox that the Raptors are still learning how to manage. Ingram’s minutes can be the least dangerous - and yet, they give the team the foundation it needs to win the others.
That formula works when the rest of the roster steps up. Against the Knicks, it didn’t.
There’s no easy fix. But if the Raptors want to compete with the league’s best, they’ll need to find a way to balance Ingram’s steady hand with a more dynamic, team-oriented attack. Because as good as he can be, certainty alone isn’t enough - not in a league that punishes predictability.