TORONTO – Brandon Ingram had plenty to reflect on before he trotted onto the court at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.

His strong 33-point performance in the Toronto Raptors’ 123-107 victory against the Chicago Bulls just happened to come on the one-year anniversary of his trade to Canada from the New Orleans Pelicans.

“Yeah, my brother mentioned the anniversary when I was talking to him,” the 28-year-old Ingram said. “But I also thought about my great aunt. It would have been her birthday (on Friday).”

Leatha Smith had a massive impact on Ingram’s development as a youngster. She raised him for seven years in North Carolina. She passed away in the summer before his freshman season at Duke University.

Related Videos

5:33
Catching up on Canada’s big sports moments

Previous Video

Next Video

But Ingram not only thinks about his great aunt on her birthday, but also at Christmas time. She gifted him his first mobile phone in one of their last holiday seasons together.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

“I think about her a lot,” Ingram said. “She raised me for seven years. I know she’s looking down at me, and she is proud of me.”

Tattooed on the back of his bicep is the quote, “Fear of suffering is far worse than suffering itself.” The words are from Brazilian philosopher Paulo Coelho in his book, The Alchemist. This became a mantra for Ingram because his great aunt repeated the line often.

So much so, Ingram decided to get the tattoo.

The hardest part about Ingram’s move from New Orleans to Toronto was waiting eight months to finally play in a Raptors jersey. He suffered a severely sprained left ankle on Dec. 8, 2024, and that injury forced him out of action for 10 months.

“Absolutely, that made the trade a little more difficult,” Ingram said. “But it also gave me time to sit and watch my new team. I got a feeling for my new teammates and where I was going to fit in.”

The six-foot-nine Ingram has fit in just fine. He’s made a big difference as the Raptors notched their 31st victory with 29 games still remaining. They won only 30 in the entire 2024-25 season.

His big game against the Bulls was the seventh time he scored 30 or more in a game this season.

“This has been a good move for me,” Ingram said with his whisper-like voice. “I needed a fresh start.

“I love this team, this city and my teammates. The coaching staff has been super.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – For 24 minutes, the Toronto Raptors dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But then turnovers and the explosive play of Anthony Edwards gave Minnesota momentum in the second half and the Raptors fell to the Timberwolves 128-126 on Wednesday. Brandon Ingram, who led Toronto with 25 points, said that he and his teammates have to get back to their fundamentals.

“Every game is different. I think we can learn how to take care of the basketball for sure and what plays we are gonna run in the fourth quarter to be the best effectively,” said Ingram post-game. “Also, just standing our ground on the defensive side of the basketball and getting stops over and over again.

“We’ve done it before.”

Scottie Barnes had a double-double for Toronto (30-22) with 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Barnes tied Pascal Siakam for fifth on the Raptors’ all-time double-doubles list with 102.

Related Videos

5:33
Catching up on Canada’s big sports moments

Previous Video

Next Video

But those weren’t the numbers Toronto was talking about post-game.

Get daily National news

Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

It was the fourth game in a row where the Raptors scored 22 or fewer points in the fourth quarter. Toronto also dropped to 1-12 against teams currently ranked in the top 10 in the NBA.

After giving up only four turnovers in the first half, the Raptors gave up nine after intermission.

“I think that was the main thing there, that out of those turnovers, they were able to get out in transition and then run and score easy on us,” said Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic. “When you’re not getting your shots, you score less and you allow them to score on the other side of the floor as well.

“I thought that was the main thing there.”

Backup centre Sandro Mamukelashvili was reluctant to say that the Raptors were forcing passes in the second half, but he acknowledged they should have been more careful.

“We kind of got a little sloppy with the ball, and that’s the main thing,” said Mamukelashvili, after Toronto led by as many as 18 points. “I think that when you when you have the lead, you control the game.

“We like to play fast, but at the same time, just kind of slowing it down and understanding when we can go and when not (to pass).”

The loss came within 24 hours of the NBA trade deadline.

Media reports had the Raptors making a small transaction earlier Wednesday to get below the luxury tax line.

The three-team deal that saw the Los Angeles Clippers send veteran guard Chris Paul to Toronto and the Raptors move forward Ochai Agbaji, their 2032 second-round draft pick and cash to the Brooklyn Nets.

Several reports said that Paul was not expected to report to Toronto.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 5, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press