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True team win despite awful shooting ends with Immanuel Quickley buzzer beater.
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Published Jan 07, 2026 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball
Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball while guarded by Liam McNeeley of the Charlotte Hornets in the second half during their game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. on Jan. 7, 2026. Photo by Jacob Kupferman /Getty Images
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One of the weirdest nights of the season ended mostly well for the Toronto Raptors.
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Having previously lost two of three games this season to Charlotte — including one where a buzzer-beater by star rookie Kon Knueppel sent the Hornets to overtime — Toronto turned the tables on Wednesday night at the Spectrum Center. After Immanuel Quickley allowed LaMelo Ball to blow by him for an uncontested layup with 1.6 seconds left to put the home side up by two, the Raptors guard was freed by a great Scottie Barnes screen and calmly drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 97-96 win.
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A pushover for years, these Hornets seem different. Even without two key starters — scoring wing Brandon Miller and shot-blocking centre Ryan Kalkbrenner — they kept the Raptors in check most of the night. They were full of confidence having recently crushed defending-champion Oklahoma City while winning nine of their previous 18. So, this was a notable win by Toronto, especially considering it lost Brandon Ingram for all but 11 minutes and was without Barnes for much of the fourth quarter.
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Some takeaways from a wild one:
AS BAD AS IT GETS
You will rarely see shooting as bad as what the Raptors managed against Charlotte. They shot 2-for-20 — yes, you read that right — in the first half, yet trailed by only five points, thanks largely to forcing a lot of turnovers.
The Raptors then missed seven of eight three-point attempts in the third quarter, but still trailed by only a point at one stage and by just six at the end of the quarter.
But things shifted late in the fourth. Had Toronto shot anywhere close to what it is capable of earlier, it might have resulted in an easy win. Four-for-six work in the fourth, including Quickley’s winner, made up for some of what went down earlier.
Toronto’s starters went an ugly 3-for-22 from three (Quickley was 2-for-10 before his memorable make, RJ Barrett 1-for-7). The team shot 20.6% from outside.
Ironically it was Sandro Mamukelashvili, in the midst of a deep shooting slump, who did the best work shooting from outside for Toronto. He had made only three of 19 attempts over his previous five games before canning two of four, both in the second half.
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INGRAM GOES DOWN
The Raptors scoring leader, Ingram, exited the game after midway through the second quarter with a right thumb sprain and did not return. Ingram was hurt as he reached while defending Knueppel.
The good news was that X-rays were negative, according to TSN Raptors sideline reporter Kayla Grey. Ingram had scored only six points in his 11 minutes, shooting 2-for-7 as part of a struggling Toronto offence.
Acquired last February but unable to suit up until this pre-season because of a severe ankle injury suffered in December of 2024, Ingram had been remarkably durable in his first months as an active Raptor. He had said he prided himself on being in the lineup every night. Ingram and franchise player Barnes were the only Raptors to suit up for the first 38 games of the season.
The run of 38 straight games played was the third-longest of Ingram’s career, surpassed only by 72 in a row to start his time with the Los Angeles Lakers after being drafted second overall, and 46 in his fifth year, while with the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Ingram played in only 18 total games last season, but bounced back to average 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists while producing perhaps the best defence of his career to help spark the Raptors to a good start to 2025-26.
Sophomore wing Ja’Kobe Walter started the second half in place of Ingram, but was quiet. Ingram’s fellow Duke alum Barrett stepped up with a monster finish, repeatedly willing Toronto back into the fight.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
Raptors rookie Collin Murray-Boyles continues to play strong basketball as the fill-in starter at centre for Jakob Poeltl.
Murray-Boyles had his best overall game of the season in a win over Atlanta on Monday, then followed up in Charlotte by becoming just the ninth first-year Raptor to grab at least 15 rebounds in a game. Only Charlie Villanueva (18), Barnes (17), Chris Bosh, Marcus Camby, Ed Davis, Jamario Moon and Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady had also accomplished the feat.
Murray-Boyles took only three shots, but had three assists and made both of his free throw attempts while playing his typically good defence.
UP NEXT
The Raptors finish a short road trip Friday with a game in Boston against the Celtics before hosting the Philadelphia 76ers for consecutive games Sunday and Monday.
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