TORONTO — Scotty Barnes was eager to attend a film screening after the Toronto Raptors' closest win of the season.
Barnes had 16 points, six rebounds and six assists in Toronto's 110-108 win over the lowly Charlotte Hornets on Monday. He also had a key block with 0.2 seconds left in the game, just 18.2 seconds after RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., scored the game-winning goal.
“We need to know how we can improve and continue to grow,” Barnes said in his postgame conference. “Every game is a lesson where we can grow and correct some things.
“We have to hold each other accountable. These are the times when we will hold each other accountable.”
The Raptors' (9-5) fourth straight win moved them half a game ahead of the New York Knicks into first place in the Atlantic Division. Toronto also finished third in the Eastern Conference.
“It's great that we're winning games, but keep staying humble, keep staying hungry because it's just the beginning of the season,” Barnes said. “But you know, we're really good, we're really talented.”
Brandon Ingram led the Raptors in scoring with 27 points, along with six rebounds and a game-tying block on Charlotte rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner's dunk attempt with nine seconds left.
Related videos
“It's practice for our long-term goal of being in tough situations, trying to figure out what's the best shot on the floor and also defensively, covering each other,” Ingram said. “We know this will help us when we get to the playoffs.”
Get the latest national news
To stay on top of news affecting Canada and the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you as they happen.
Ingram also made a highlight dunk with 6:43 left in the game to tout Kalkbrenner. It was an impressive performance from Ingram, who played just 18 games for the New Orleans Pelicans last season after spraining his left ankle.
“You know, I haven’t been able to jump that high in a while because I’ve been out since December and I was just trying to figure out how I could get my feet under me,” Ingram said. “It was definitely a confidence booster, just getting to the edge and being able to finish on top.”
Immanuel Quickley recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.
Cohn Knuppel scored 24 points as Charlotte (4-10) lost its third straight. LaMelo Ball added 20 points with eight assists.
Miles Bridges hit a 26-foot 3-pointer to give the Hornets a 108-106 lead with 1:41 left in the game. Barnes answered for the Raptors with a thunderous two-handed dunk to tie the game 108-108.
After Quickley blocked Ball's shot, he and Ingram passed the ball, opening the lane for Barrett, who made the game-winning layup with 18.4 seconds left on a smart pass from Ingram.
Barnes said Ingram is so dangerous on offense that other teams are forced to double him.
“He killed them all at the posts, ISO, so you have to send help,” Barnes said. “It was a great hit by RJ at the end of the game, so he immediately made the extra play and gave us the lead.
“(Ingram) gets so much attention. He's so talented. Once he hits the spot, he's unstoppable.”
Toronto looked very disorganized at times, but six players still managed to reach double-digit scoring: Barrett (16), Jakob Poeltl (13) and backup forward Grady Dick (10) joined Ingram, Barnes and Quickley with 10 or more points.
“It's good for us. It will be a very good film for us,” said head coach Darko Rajakovic. “I think we did some extraordinary things this stretch – protecting the rim, blocking shots, some big rebounds.
“It will be a good film for us to see how we can finish the game and execute better.”
DON'T ask me that – Charlotte was given 30 free throws and made 24. The Raptors went to the charity stripe just 16 times and sank 12 of them.
Rajakovic was asked about the lopsided whistles after Toronto's win.
“Are we talking about today's game? Do you want me to be fined?” – Rajakovich laughed. “No comment on the free throw differential.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 17, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
