NBA: Brandon Ingram nets 38 as Raptors sweep four games from Heat

The Toronto Raptors cruised to a 128-114 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night, powered by Brandon Ingram’s dominant performance. Ingram scored 38 points, including 23 in the first half, as Toronto completed a four-game season sweep of Miami and strengthened its position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

With the win, the Raptors improved to 45-35, moving into sixth place in the East, just half a game ahead of Orlando and half a game behind fifth-place Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Heat fell to 41-39 and are set to compete in the play-in tournament for the fourth straight season.

RJ Barrett added 22 points for Toronto, while Collin Murray-Boyles contributed 17. Scottie Barnes finished with 13 points, and Immanuel Quickley chipped in 11 points in his second game back from a foot injury.

Miami was led by Bam Adebayo, who recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds. Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each scored 15 points, with Mitchell also dishing out 11 assists. Pelle Larsson added 10 points in the loss.

Toronto took control early, building a 19-point halftime lead behind efficient shooting and a strong presence on the offensive glass. The Raptors extended their advantage to as many as 26 early in the third quarter before Miami cut the deficit to six. However, Toronto responded with a key scoring run to maintain a comfortable lead heading into the final period.

The Raptors pulled away for good in the fourth quarter, opening with a 5-0 run and stretching the lead to over 20 points midway through the frame. Toronto’s balanced scoring and disciplined defense prevented any serious comeback attempt by Miami.

Both teams shot efficiently from the field, with Miami hitting 56.1 percent of its attempts and Toronto shooting 51.2 percent. However, the Raptors made the difference at the free-throw line and capitalized on turnovers, outscoring the Heat 24-9 in points off turnovers while committing just six themselves.

Toronto also held a significant edge in second-chance points, helping secure a convincing win as they continue to push for a higher playoff seed. -Field Level Media/Reuters