The Toronto Raptors continued their impressive early-season form with a decisive 110-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena. Brandon Ingram delivered an offensive masterclass while Scottie Barnes provided his customary all-around excellence as the team secured its best start in years.
Ingram's Dominant Performance
Brandon Ingram looked unstoppable, pouring in a game-high 37 points - his highest scoring output since he dropped 41 points against the Raptors back in February 2024. Despite appearing to land on an opponent's foot during Sunday's game, Ingram showed no signs of discomfort, shooting 15-for-30 from the field and 5-for-11 from three-point range while adding seven rebounds.
Even the defensive presence of reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and former teammate Lonzo Ball couldn't contain Ingram, who repeatedly connected on elegant turnaround jump shots to keep Cleveland at bay.
Barnes and Supporting Cast
Scottie Barnes complemented Ingram perfectly with another stat-stuffing performance of 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Raptors completed a three-game season sweep against last year's Eastern Conference standouts, improving to 3-0 against the Cavaliers.
The victory didn't come without challenges, as Toronto played without RJ Barrett for the first time this season. His absence was particularly felt in transition, where Barrett had been scoring 1.63 points per possession off cuts - the fourth-best mark in the entire NBA.
With Barrett sidelined, Ja'Kobe Walter earned the start after two strong performances off the bench. While quiet offensively, Walter made his presence felt defensively. The Raptors will need more from Gradey Dick during Barrett's absence, but the sophomore went scoreless on five shot attempts in this contest.
Overcoming Adversity
Toronto improved to 13-5 with the win, matching the franchise's best 18-game start previously accomplished only in 2014-15, 2018-19, and 2019-20. The Cavaliers entered the game shorthanded, missing former all-stars Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland, along with starter De'Andre Hunter, sharp-shooter Sam Merrill, and several other regulars.
Even with Cleveland's depleted roster, containing Donovan Mitchell remained paramount to Toronto's defensive strategy. The league leader in three-point attempts struggled through most of the game, starting just 3-for-14 from the field and 1-for-7 from beyond the arc before connecting on two consecutive triples in the fourth quarter to keep things interesting.
Turnovers nearly derailed Toronto's efforts throughout the contest, with the Cavaliers maintaining a double-digit advantage in points created off turnovers for significant stretches. Both Ingram and Immanuel Quickley contributed to the miscues, with each committing multiple turnovers through three quarters.
However, the Raptors stabilized down the stretch, committing just one turnover in the final six minutes of the third quarter to build an 88-76 lead they would not relinquish. The victory keeps Toronto rolling as they establish themselves as an early-season force in the Eastern Conference.
