NBA: Raptors subdue Bulls' deadline-depleted roster

Brandon Ingram scored 22 of his 33 points in the first half Thursday night as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Chicago Bulls 123-107.

Immanuel Quickley added 24 points for the Raptors, who have won two of three games to start a five-game homestand. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Murray-Boyles each contributed 17 points, with Murray-Boyles also recording three blocks. Scottie Barnes added 13 points, while Ja'Kobe Walter chipped in 12.

The Bulls, who completed seven trades before the deadline, featured two new players in their starting lineup and three overall. Anfernee Simons, acquired from the Boston Celtics for Nikola Vucevic, led the team with 22 points, while former Detroit Piston Jaden Ivey added 13 points as his starting backcourt partner. Guerschon Yabusele contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

Matas Buzelis scored 18 points for Chicago, which finished a 1-3 road trip and suffered its sixth loss in seven games. Jalen Smith added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Isaac Okoro scored 10.

Toronto led by 12 points entering the fourth quarter. The lead stretched to 15 on Mamukelashvili’s driving hook with 7:57 remaining. Simons cut the deficit to 10 with a 3-pointer at 4:53, but Quickley restored the 15-point margin with another three-pointer at 2:34.

The Raptors started strong, leading 33-25 after the first quarter. Quickley’s 10-footer gave Toronto a 15-point advantage early in the second quarter, forcing the Bulls into a 7-0 run capped by Simons’ layup. Chicago closed the half within seven on Ivey’s steal that set up Buzelis’ layup, but Toronto led 65-58 at halftime.

Toronto shot an efficient 58.7% (27-for-46) from the field in the first half, while Chicago made 50% (23-for-46).

The Bulls tied the game 76-76 early in the third quarter on a Buzelis 3-pointer, but defensive lapses allowed the Raptors to respond with 10 straight points, including Quickley’s floater with 5:13 remaining. Toronto held a 100-88 lead heading into the final quarter.

-Field Level Media/Reuters