Toronto won an all-time ugly game in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Cavaliers. In the second-lowest scoring game of the Raptors season, they escaped with a 93-89 win.
The box score was filled with ugly shooting lines. First-round hero RJ Barrett finished 8-for-22. Ja'Kobe Walter failed to make a shot for the second straight game, going 0-for-9. Jamal Shead, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Jamison Battle combined to shoot just 2-for-10.
But the most concerning stat line may have belonged to one of Toronto’s All-Stars, Brandon Ingram. Ingram scored a series-high 23 points, but shot just 6-for-23 and failed to record a single assist.
Brandon Ingram’s shot-hunting nearly cost Toronto
Ingram’s struggles in this series have been well documented. Entering Game 4, he was averaging just 12 points per game. From the opening tip, it was clear he wanted this game to be different.
He took seven shots in the first quarter alone after attempting nine total in two of the previous three games. The aggression was understandable. The execution was not. He made just one of those seven attempts.
The second half brought more of the same, as Ingram went 2-for-10 from the field. More troubling than the misses was how often the ball stuck in his hands. He created slow possessions, allowed Cleveland’s defense to get set, and too many trips ended in contested mid-range attempts.
Even as his shot was not falling, Ingram never shifted into playmaker mode or looked to keep Toronto’s offense moving. Instead, he kept hunting difficult shots while teammates watched possessions stall. For a Raptors team built on pace, quick decisions, and ball movement, it is no wonder the offense struggled.
Toronto needed something different
This is part of Ingram’s game. He can make difficult shots and has confidence to spare. But in a pivotal Game 4, Toronto needed more from its star.
Fortunately, the defense carried them. Cleveland’s 89 points were the second-fewest Toronto has allowed all season. With even an average Ingram efficiency game, this could have been a comfortable victory.
Instead, the Raptors turned to Scottie Barnes late. Barnes was up to the challenge, scoring six of Toronto’s final eight points and leading the 17-5 closing run that saved the night.
If the Raptors want to pull off this series, Ingram cannot repeat a performance like Game 4. In a game Toronto barely escaped, his shot-hunting nearly cost Toronto dearly.
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