Toronto needed a reset. Miami needed a response. After five quiet days for both teams following NBA Cup quarterfinal exits, the Raptors found the answers first, closing strong to beat the Heat 106-96 on Monday night and snap a four-game losing streak. It was the kind of road win that calms a shaky week, and it arrived on the back of Brandon Ingram’s steady, star-level scoring.

Ingram poured in a team-high 28 points and looked every bit the go-to scorer that Toronto has leaned on early this season. It follows his 31-point night against the Knicks in the Cup, a sign that his rhythm is real and repeatable. The Heat had no easy counter. As Erik Spoelstra put it, “He’s healthy — that’s a big part of his success… He’s a tough guard. He gets to his spots and raises up above most defenses.”

Raptors vs. Heat: a fourth-quarter swing

The game turned late. Toronto tightened the screws in the fourth quarter, where poise and simple execution often decide everything. The Raptors found shots in flow, got the ball to the right hands, and strung together enough stops to build a cushion that held. It was not flashy, but it was firm. That matters for a team that had been sliding.

For Miami, the closing stretch told a different story. A nine-point game grew into a double-digit finish as the Heat’s own offense stalled. In the middle of a five-game skid, that kind of drought is as much about confidence as it is about tactics.

“Ingram’s midrange is the closer Toronto’s been missing.”

Brandon Ingram’s star turn and a clean bill of health

Ingram’s current season tells a simple story: when healthy, he changes the math. After missing 64 games last season, he’s back to being a fix-all scorer, averaging 21.5 points per game. That number frames his 28 in Miami: it wasn’t a spike; it was a continuation. Against the Heat, he kept the offense organized by getting to his spots early in the shot clock and punishing single coverage.

Those shots were high-value not just because they went in, but because they settled the team. When a star gets you a bucket at the right time, everyone else can exhale. That confidence lifted Toronto through the final minutes. It also forced the Heat into tough decisions — send help and risk a kick-out, or play him straight and live with the result. Spoelstra’s postgame praise said the quiet part out loud: there wasn’t an easy answer.

Five days off, two different resets

Both teams had time to rethink after their NBA Cup exits — Toronto fell to the Knicks 117-101, and Miami lost to the Magic 117-108. That break can be a blessing or a trap. The Raptors treated it like a reset: tighten the rotation, emphasize defense, and let a clear pecking order guide the offense. It showed up late, where the game slowed and Toronto stayed patient.

For Miami, the lull did not stop the slide. The Heat worked to generate clean looks, but the rhythm never stuck. That has now added up to five straight losses. The Heat are too proud and too well-coached to sit with that for long, but this is a test of identity in mid-December.

“Five days off and one team used it — Toronto — to find its voice.”

What changed for Toronto: poise, pace, and shot selection

The Raptors’ best moments came when they played at their own speed. They didn’t chase the game. They forced the Heat to defend through full possessions, then trusted Ingram to finish or draw help. That kept turnovers manageable and the defense set on the other end.

Toronto’s fourth-quarter focus also hinted at a repeatable plan. In close games, a team needs a reliable menu. On Monday, it looked like this:

• Get Ingram touches in space where he can rise and fire.
• Use patient half-court sets to control tempo.
• Protect the defensive glass and avoid live-ball mistakes.

None of that is complicated. It just takes discipline. After four losses, this was a return to basics — and to winning.

Miami’s slide hits five: where do the Heat go from here?

For the Heat, the story is about late-game answers. The defense was solid in stretches, but the offense did not deliver enough stress to crack Toronto. When the shots didn’t fall, frustration grew, and the Raptors pounced. Miami will look to simplify, generate more paint touches, and find a steady late-game scorer who can settle things when the pace slows.

The good news: it’s mid-December. There is time to adjust, time to get healthy bodies into rhythm, and time to grab back momentum. But the Eastern Conference pace at the top is brisk. Dropping winnable games now tightens the screws later.

“Heat culture is built on answers — someone has to own the fourth.”

Context that matters in the East race

Both teams came in chasing the leaders in the East. That makes nights like this more than a one-off. For Toronto, stopping the slide is about staying in the lane to compete. For Miami, halting a five-game skid is about belief and avoiding the climb that comes later in the season.

Ingram’s rise back to form adds a new wrinkle. If he keeps scoring at this level and stays on the floor, Toronto’s offense has a north star. That can change the feel of tight games — and change the math in the standings.

Final word

Toronto walked into Miami needing a result and found one, 106-96, by playing smart late and trusting a star who is healthy and humming. Brandon Ingram’s 28 points set the tone and closed the door. The Raptors got a reset; the Heat are still looking for one.

It’s only one win and one loss, but not all nights weigh the same. This one felt like a step back toward who Toronto wants to be — and a reminder to Miami that December can ask hard questions.