In a game defined by bizarre shooting and late-game heroics, the Toronto Raptors escaped Charlotte with a stunning 97-96 victory on Tuesday night. The win came courtesy of a clutch three-pointer from guard Immanuel Quickley as time expired, capping off one of the strangest performances of the season.
A Redemptive Buzzer-Beater Seals the Win
The final sequence was a rollercoaster of emotions for Quickley and the Raptors. With just 1.6 seconds remaining and Toronto down by two, Charlotte's LaMelo Ball blew past Quickley for an uncontested layup that seemed to seal the game. However, on the ensuing inbound play, a perfect screen from Scottie Barnes freed Quickley, who caught the pass and calmly drained a 25-foot three-pointer as the horn sounded for the win.
This victory was particularly sweet for Toronto, which had previously lost two of three meetings with the Hornets this season. One of those losses came on a buzzer-beating shot by Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel that forced overtime.
Historic Shooting Struggles Overcome
The Raptors' path to the dramatic finish was anything but smooth. The team endured one of its worst shooting nights in recent memory, particularly from beyond the arc. In the first half alone, Toronto shot a dismal 2-for-20 from three-point range.
The struggles continued after halftime, with the team missing seven of eight attempts from deep in the third quarter. For the game, the Raptors connected on just 20.6% of their three-pointers (14-for-68). The starting lineup was especially cold, combining to shoot 3-for-22 from distance before Quickley's game-winner.
Ironically, it was reserve forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, mired in a deep shooting slump, who provided a rare spark. After making only three of his previous 19 attempts over five games, he hit two crucial three-pointers in the second half.
Ingram Injury Mars Victory
The win came at a potential cost, as star forward Brandon Ingram exited the game in the second quarter with a right thumb sprain and did not return. Ingram, the team's scoring leader, had played just 11 minutes, scoring six points on 2-for-7 shooting.
The initial news was positive, with TSN's Kayla Grey reporting that X-rays on the thumb were negative. The injury occurred as Ingram reached in to defend Charlotte's Knueppel. Prior to Tuesday, Ingram had been a model of durability, having played in all 38 games to start the 2025-26 season alongside Barnes.
Ingram's absence forced sophomore wing Ja'Kobe Walter into the starting lineup for the second half, but it was fellow Duke alum RJ Barrett who shouldered much of the offensive load down the stretch, willing the Raptors back into contention.
Rookie Makes History on the Boards
With starting centre Jakob Poeltl still sidelined, rookie Collin Murray-Boyles continued his impressive fill-in work. The first-year big man grabbed 15 rebounds, becoming just the ninth rookie in franchise history to reach that mark in a game.
He joins an exclusive list that includes franchise icons Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, as well as Chris Bosh, Marcus Camby, and Scottie Barnes. Murray-Boyles also contributed three assists, made both of his free throws, and played his typically stout defence despite taking only three shots.
The Raptors' resilience was on full display against a much-improved Hornets squad that was missing two key starters, Brandon Miller and Ryan Kalkbrenner. Charlotte had recently crushed the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and had won nine of its previous 18 games.
Toronto now looks ahead to a tough test, concluding its short road trip on Friday against the Boston Celtics. The team then returns home for a back-to-back set against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday and Monday.
