The Toronto Raptors‘ top scorer stepped up when it mattered most.
Brandon Ingram isolated on Pelle Larsson, backed him down and hit a signature turnaround jumper to increase his point total to 38, setting a new high both on the season and in a Raptors jersey.
The slender, six-foot-eight wing put on a clinic against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, going 13-of-23 from the field and 10-of-11 from the free throw line, leading Toronto to a crucial 128-114 win.
The Raptors jumped into fifth place in the Eastern Conference with the victory, further separating themselves from the play-in picture.
“We know it’s crunch time,” Ingram said to Sportsnet’s Danielle Michaud after the game.
Even more impressive than the sheer scoring total was how Ingram achieved his buckets.
The two-time all-star is a known “bucket getter,” or as Raptors GM Bobby Webster described him at the outset of the season: “A hooper’s hooper,” and it was on full display in this contest.
Ingram boogied to his spots and made tough, contested jumpers over defenders, often drawing a double team and making his shot regardless. Eight of his 13 makes were on difficult attempts from the mid-range.
It was Ingram’s 12th 30-point game of the season, one shy of his previous high of 13 set in 2022-23.
The Raptors will aim to secure their first playoff berth in four years as they play the New York Knicks on Friday, then conclude their season at home against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday (Watch on Sportsnet ONE at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT).
