Sandro Mamukelashvili was also fantastic, as in just five first quarter minutes, he jumped out with 11 points and was a +22. The 26-year-old finished with 19 points, four rebounds, three steals, and a +47, the third-best single-game plus-minus in Raptors history.
Overall, Toronto outscored Orlando 82-38 in the paint and 39-7 on the break, showing up in a big-time moment despite missing big-time players.
Toronto now has eight games remaining, with its next matchup scheduled for Tuesday in Detroit against the big and bad Pistons.
Notable performances:
Scottie Barnes – 28 MIN, 23 PTS, 5 REB, 15 AST, 3 STL, 9-14 FG, 2-2 3FG, 3-5 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 30 +/-
RJ Barrett – 26 MIN, 24 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 8-14 FG, 0-4 3FG, 8-8 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 22 +/-
Sandro Mamukelashvili – 21 MIN, 19 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 3 STL, 8-13 FG, 2-4 3FG, 1-1 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 47 +/-
Your next read: Wolfond: How Rajakovic and Ingram’s compromise has defined Raptors’ seas
When the Toronto Raptors traded for Brandon Ingram last February, the confusion from some corners of the NBA community (very much including the Raptors community) was loud. On top of questions about the team’s muddled competitive timeline, there were practical and aesthetic considerations around what the on-court product would look like. This team’s offensive identity under Darko Rajakovic had been built on pace, ball movement, cutting, and continuity, whereas Ingram was bringing with him a long history of high-viscosity hoops.
Despite making some subtle adjustments to facilitate better flow this season, that’s still largely who Ingram is as a player. His default setting is languid. Sometimes when the ball finds him, it sticks, and watching him gradually nudge those possessions along can be like watching someone try to coax honey out of an upturned jar.