Raptors Slip Past Hornets in a Thriller
In front of a loud crowd of over 19,000 people, the Charlotte Hornets dropped a tough one to the Toronto Raptors, 110-108. Charlotte, now on a three-game skid and sitting at 4-10, stayed within striking distance for most of the night but couldn’t get the final bucket they needed. Toronto continued its strong early-season stretch and improved to 9-5 with its fourth straight win. Both teams traded momentum swings throughout the night, keeping the energy high from start to finish.
Kon Knueppel led the Hornets with 24 points, showing confidence and control all game long. Miles Bridges added 22, LaMelo Ball contributed 20, and Ryan Kalkbrenner added seven points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, helping Charlotte stay competitive inside. Off the bench, Collin Sexton delivered 17 points, giving the Hornets a much-needed spark every time he checked in. Moussa Diabate also made an impact defensively with four blocks, helping protect the rim when it mattered most.
Toronto answered with a balanced scoring attack, led by Brandon Ingram’s 27 points and Scottie Barnes’ 16 points, while impacting the game all over the floor. RJ Barrett added 16 points of his own, giving the Raptors another steady option throughout the night. Jakob Poeltl chipped in 13 points and helped Toronto stay organized in the paint on both ends. Immanuel Quickley finished with 15 points and an impressive 10 rebounds, leading the Raptors on the glass and providing key support in their late push.
The final minute was tense and full of drama. After Brandon Ingram missed a three, Scottie Barnes crashed the glass and tied the game at 108 with a powerful dunk. Charlotte tried to take the lead back, but LaMelo Ball’s floater rimmed out, and Toronto responded with RJ Barrett’s go-ahead layup with 18 seconds left. The Hornets had several chances in the final moments, including a blocked dunk attempt and a late putback from Ryan Kalkbrenner and Collin Sexton, but the Raptors’ defense held strong until the buzzer.
Charlotte will look to stop their three-game losing streak when they travel to Indiana for a Wednesday night matchup with the Pacers. The Hornets continue to show flashes, particularly on offense, but late-game execution remains an area to clean up. Toronto will also be on the road on Wednesday as they head to Philadelphia to face the 76ers. With momentum building and balance across the roster, the Raptors appear focused on keeping their winning streak alive.
