Raptors Move Closer to Playoffs with 128-114 Win Over Heat

Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 38 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 128-114 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday, moving Toronto closer to securing a playoff spot.

Ingram also contributed seven rebounds and seven assists as the Raptors (45-35) completed a sweep of their back-to-back series with Miami. With this win, Toronto is now tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference alongside the idle Atlanta Hawks.

A win against the New York Knicks on Friday or the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday will clinch the Raptors’ first playoff berth in four years.

RJ Barrett, from Mississauga, Ontario, added 22 points, six rebounds, and three assists to Toronto’s effort.

For Miami (41-39), Bam Adebayo and Davion Mitchell each recorded a double-double. Adebayo finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, while Mitchell chipped in 15 points and 11 assists.

The Heat had already secured a spot in the play-in tournament but were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs following Tuesday’s loss.

Miami struggled to bounce back from a 121-95 defeat to Toronto two days earlier, which head coach Erik Spoelstra described as “embarrassing.” The Heat were outrebounded 40-34 and committed 15 turnovers that resulted in 24 Toronto points.

Toronto All-Star Scottie Barnes faced early foul trouble, but Ingram responded with an aggressive performance in the first half. His scoring threat forced Miami to double- or triple-team him, opening up offensive chances for his teammates. Ingram scored 10 points in the first quarter and 13 in the second.

A defining moment came when Ingram made two free throws with 1:58 left in the first half, capping a 14-1 Raptors run and extending their lead to 19 points.

Toronto was highly efficient with the ball, committing only one turnover in the first half and just six in total.

Looking ahead, the Raptors will visit the New York Knicks on Friday, while Miami heads to Washington to face the Wizards.