Ingram’s Near-Miss Haunts Raptors in Heartbreaking Loss to Nuggets
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was poised to etch his name in the team’s lore with a heroic buzzer-beater. However, his three-point attempt in the closing seconds of the game against the Denver Nuggets came a heartbeat too late, sealing a 106-103 defeat for the Raptors.
Ingram’s Reflections on the Missed Opportunity
Ingram, despite the disappointment, approached the post-game press conference with a hint of humor. “Maybe I need to cut my fingernails,” he quipped, brushing off the narrow loss. He elaborated on the play that led to his shot, which came after he and teammate Scottie Barnes had established a connection during a free throw. “He got the rebound, and I knew the spot I wanted to run to, and he delivered a good pass,” Ingram explained. Yet, despite his valiant effort—scoring 30 points—he fell just shy of the mark needed to push the game into overtime.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Raptors’ performance mirrored a familiar narrative throughout the game. Ingram acknowledged a lack of aggression in the first half, a trend that has plagued the team. “I don’t think we were aggressive in the first half,” he noted. “That’s been kind of the trend that we’ve been having to be the aggressor in the second half.” While the starters, including Ingram, recognized the need for improvement, they did manage to mount a comeback, echoing their previous victory over the Orlando Magic earlier in the week. In that contest, the Raptors had overcome a 20-point deficit to claim victory. Unfortunately, the magic did not repeat itself against the Nuggets.
Bench Struggles Contribute to Defeat
One of the stark differences between the two games was the contribution from the bench. The Raptors’ second unit had delivered an impressive 50 points against the Magic, but against the Nuggets, they could muster only 12. “It was impressive that we could find a way to compete (despite the bench performance),” said head coach Darko Rajakovic. “But definitely shooting was not on our side tonight.” The Raptors struggled mightily from beyond the arc, finishing the night 0-of-18 from three-point range. Rajakovic expressed confidence in the team’s shot selection, calling all attempts “good shots.” Yet, as the outcome demonstrated, good looks don’t always translate into success.
Looking Ahead
With the sting of this loss still fresh, the Raptors will seek to regroup as they prepare for two upcoming home games against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday and Monday. Ingram and his teammates will aim to translate their potential into results, hoping to find their shooting touch and regain their momentum.
