In an impressive display, Brandon Ingram led the Toronto Raptors to a commanding 140-110 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night, solidifying their advancement in the Emirates NBA Cup. Ingram's stat line featured 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, highlighting his pivotal role in the game.
This victory, coupled with the Indiana Pacers' 120-109 defeat by the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier that evening, secured the Raptors a coveted spot in the knockout rounds of the in-season tournament. Notably, this marks the first time the Raptors have progressed beyond the group stage of the NBA Cup and makes them the first team to achieve this milestone in the current season.
RJ Barrett, hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, matched Ingram's scoring output with 24 points while also contributing eight rebounds. Additionally, Scottie Barnes played a key role in the Raptors' victory, scoring 23 points, with a notable 14 points coming during a dominant third quarter. Sandro Mamukelashvili, coming off the bench, also made a significant impact by adding 23 points and securing seven rebounds for Toronto.
The Wizards, struggling throughout the season with a record of 1-14, were led by CJ McCollum, who scored 20 points. Despite the loss, McCollum was a standout performer for Washington, although the team has now suffered 13 consecutive losses. Fellow reserve Tre Johnson contributed 14 points, while Swiss-Canadian forward Kyshawn George added five points, four assists, and three rebounds.
The match saw both teams opting to rest their starters with over four minutes remaining, indicating the game's outcome was well in hand. At halftime, the Raptors held a narrow advantage with a 57-47 lead, but they significantly distanced themselves in the second half, outscoring the Wizards 48-30 in the third quarter alone, driven largely by Barnes's scoring surge.
Notably, the game began with Washington's Bilal Coulibaly scoring a dunk just moments after tip-off, providing the Wizards with a brief lead. However, the Raptors quickly countered with an impressive 11-0 run, establishing a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
Toronto's shooting performance from beyond the arc was a decisive factor, as the team converted 14 of their 29 attempts (48.3 percent), while effectively limiting the Wizards to just 12 for 41 (29.3 percent) from three-point range. This dominance reflected the Raptors' overall efficiency and control over the game.
Looking ahead, the Raptors continue their homestand with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Wizards will travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls on Saturday, hoping to turn their fortunes around after a challenging start to the season.
