Toronto, ON — Brandon Ingram delivered in the clutch, sinking a 15-foot jump shot with just 0.6 seconds remaining to seal a thrilling 97-95 victory for the Toronto Raptors over the Indiana Pacers in NBA Cup action Wednesday night.
The buzzer-beater not only extended Toronto’s impressive winning streak to nine games but also secured the Raptors a top-two seed and home-court advantage in the quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup. The result was further boosted by the Milwaukee Bucks’ narrow loss to the Miami Heat earlier in the evening.
Raptors Stay Perfect in NBA Cup Group Play
Ingram led the charge with 26 points and eight rebounds, while Scottie Barnes recorded a strong double-double with 24 points and 10 boards. Immanuel Quickley added 15 points, six assists and five rebounds as Toronto improved to 14-5 this season and finished group play with a flawless 4-0 record.
Despite dealing with multiple injuries, the Raptors displayed resilience and depth throughout the contest.
Pacers Fall Short Despite Late Push
TJ McConnell paced Indiana with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists off the bench. Jarace Walker contributed 13 points and narrowly missed a double-double. Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard, both Canadian guards, added 15 and nine points respectively.
Indiana, now 2-16 on the season, dropped its third consecutive game after surrendering key momentum late.
Injury Concerns for Toronto
Toronto suffered another blow when backup forward Gradey Dick exited in the first quarter following a hard fall and did not return. The team also confirmed RJ Barrett remains sidelined for at least another week with a sprained knee.
Key Moments and Game Breakdown
- Toronto erased an 11-point deficit with an 11-0 run to close the second quarter, taking a 50-49 halftime lead.
- That momentum carried into the third quarter with a 13-1 stretch capped by an Ingram three-pointer.
- The fourth quarter saw intense back-and-forth action before Ingram sealed the win with his last-second jumper.
Game Stats Highlight
Toronto struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 5-for-26 (19.2%) from three-point range — well below their season average of 37.8%. However, the Raptors dominated inside, outscoring Indiana 46-40 in the paint and edging them 48-43 on the boards.
What’s Next
- Pacers: Host the Washington Wizards on Friday
- Raptors: Travel to face the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday
The dramatic finish further reinforced Toronto’s status as a growing force in the NBA Cup, with momentum and home-court advantage now firmly on their side.
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