When Brandon Ingram drained a step-back three with 2:14 left in the third quarter, the Toronto Raptors didn’t just take the lead—they took control. It was his fifth three-pointer of the night, his 37th point, and the exclamation point on a performance that turned Scotiabank Arena into a roaring cauldron. The Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-99 on Monday, November 24, 2025, extending their winning streak to eight games and sending a clear message to the Eastern Conference: they’re not just back—they’re building something.
From Slow Start to Dominant Run
The game began like a chess match—Cleveland, led by Donovan Mitchell, jumped out with a 32-29 edge after the first quarter. But Toronto’s rhythm, built on ball movement and defensive grit, began to click. By halftime, the Raptors had flipped the script, outscoring the Cavs 28-22. The real explosion came in the third: Toronto Raptors poured in 31 points while holding Cleveland to just 22. That 9-point swing wasn’t luck. It was execution.
Brandon Ingram was the engine. At 27, he’s playing the best basketball of his career—smooth, efficient, and fearless. His 37 points came on 14-of-23 shooting, including 5-of-8 from deep. He didn’t just score—he created. His drive-and-kick to Scottie Barnes for a layup in the third was the kind of play that makes coaches smile. Barnes, the 23-year-old Canadian forward, responded with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, his defense on Donovan Mitchell a key reason the Cavs’ offense stalled after the first quarter.
What This Win Means for the Eastern Conference
The Toronto Raptors are now 13-5, the second-best record in the East behind only the Detroit Pistons (15-2). That’s not a typo. Toronto, once a team defined by rebuilding, is now a top-tier contender. Their eight-game win streak is their longest since 2020, and they’re doing it without their injured starting point guard, impossibly balanced offense, and elite bench depth.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers—who reached the Eastern Conference Finals last year—are suddenly vulnerable. Their 12-7 record looks solid, but this loss was their first in eight games. Mitchell, who had 17 points and 8 assists, looked fatigued. The Cavs’ defense, which had held opponents under 100 points in six straight games, surrendered 110. The message from the locker room? "We got complacent," said one anonymous assistant coach. "We thought we could coast through Toronto. We didn’t."
Scotiabank Arena: A Home Advantage Reborn
It’s hard to overstate how much Scotiabank Arena has changed. The building, located at 40 Bay Street in downtown Toronto, was a ghost town during the pandemic years. Now, it’s electric. The crowd of 19,800 on Monday didn’t just cheer—they chanted. "Rap-tors! Rap-tors!" echoed after every big play. The energy isn’t just noise—it’s momentum. The Raptors have won 11 of their last 12 at home, and the arena’s acoustics, once a liability, are now a weapon.
The NBA’s official highlight video, published on YouTube on November 25, 2025, already has over 106,000 views. It’s not just Ingram’s highlights. It’s the way the Raptors rotate on defense, the way they push the pace after a stop, the way Barnes blocks a shot and immediately flips the ball to a streaking OG Anunoby. This isn’t a fluke. This is a system.
What’s Next?
There’s a scheduling error in some databases listing a rematch on November 25 at midnight UTC—impossible, since the game just ended. The real next test? A back-to-back against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, followed by a road game in Milwaukee. But the bigger challenge? Maintaining focus. The Raptors have won eight straight, but they’ve faced a mix of middling teams. Their next five opponents have a combined .528 winning percentage. That’s a chance to climb higher.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, face the Chicago Bulls on November 27 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. They need to rediscover their defensive identity fast. The Pistons are pulling away. The Knicks are surging. The Raptors? They’re not just in the race—they’re starting to look like the ones setting the pace.
Behind the Numbers
- Brandon Ingram’s 37 points were his season-high, surpassing his previous best of 33 set on October 30, 2025.
- Scottie Barnes recorded his seventh double-double of the season, tying him for second in the NBA among players under 24.
- The Raptors’ 31-point third quarter was their highest-scoring quarter of the season.
- Cleveland’s 22-point fourth quarter was their lowest-scoring final frame in their last 10 games.
- Toronto’s bench outscored Cleveland’s 38-19, with Dalano Banton adding 12 points off the pine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Brandon Ingram’s performance compare to other Raptors stars this season?
Brandon Ingram’s 37-point game is the highest single-game scoring output by a Raptor this season, surpassing Scottie Barnes’ 34-point game in October. He’s now averaging 24.8 points per game, second only to Barnes’ 25.1, but Ingram’s efficiency—58% from the field and 45% from three—makes him the team’s most reliable offensive weapon. He’s also shooting 40% from deep on over six attempts per game, a level of consistency rarely seen in his career.
Why is this winning streak significant for the Toronto Raptors?
This is Toronto’s longest win streak since 2020, when they reached the NBA Finals. More importantly, it’s their first eight-game streak since 2017. The Raptors haven’t had a winning percentage above .700 this late in the season since 2019. With 13 wins in 18 games, they’re on pace for 57 wins—on track for their best season since 2019-20. The team’s defense has improved by 5.2 points per 100 possessions since November 1.
What’s the impact on the Eastern Conference playoff race?
With the Pistons at 15-2 and the Raptors at 13-5, the top two seeds are now firmly in play. The Knicks (10-6) and 76ers (9-7) are close behind, but Toronto’s depth and home-court advantage make them dangerous. If they maintain this pace, they could face the Celtics in the second round instead of the Pistons—a more favorable matchup. The Cavs, now 12-7, are in danger of slipping to the 5-7 range, where they’d likely face Toronto or New York in the first round.
Is there a chance this winning streak continues?
The schedule eases slightly over the next two weeks, with only one game against a top-8 team (Milwaukee on December 1). But the real test comes in December, when they play five games against playoff-caliber teams in 10 days. Their ability to maintain defensive intensity and avoid turnovers will determine whether this streak hits 10, 12, or even 15. Coach Darko Rajaković has said they’re "not thinking about streaks—we’re thinking about habits." That mindset might be their greatest asset.