The Raptors are looking for a playoff X-Factor

Samson Folk & Trevon Heath detail the latest in the Raptors realm.

From Samson’s piece:

“Ingram was just as important in the close of the quarter as he was in the opening. In the midst of a dazzling scoring performance, and one that required a lot of diversity in the types of shots he was taking. Hard charging to the basket, pulling up audaciously, or even hunting his own misses, he was grinding out there. That aggression was what led to a Heat double and a kick out to Quickley for a triple. Bending the defense with ease. Ingram had a hand in the last handful of baskets the Raptors made to close the third and head into the fourth with a 12-point lead.

Jamal Shead dished the ball to a rolling Murray-Boyles who finished through contact and sent the Raptors up by 22 points with roughly 6 minutes to go. The only thing left to watch for was health, and a to see if Ingram would creep up to a 40-ball.

Of course, the 40-ball didn’t come. Ingram finished with 38 points on a blistering 13-23 from the field to go along with 7 assists and 7 rebounds. The Heat circled him, doubled him, and stuck to him like a shadow as the game crept down to its finish and Ingram was comfortable finding the open man. The benches cleared and he left the game with 38 points, and a win.”

As for CMB and his multi-purpose impact, I believe Louis put it quite well:

“Murray-Boyles was one of the youngest players to appear in the game for either side, yet he defined the game. And in the hunt of the playoffs proper rather than the play-in, the Raptors have another must-win game against the Heat in two nights. They’ll need to ensure their identity follows them into that contest.”

Have a blessed day.

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