Raptors Vs Bulls: Raptors Win 110-101 as Ja’Kobe Walter Makes a Strong Case
In a road victory that mattered for playoff positioning, the Raptors defeated the Bulls, 110-101, in a raptors vs bulls matchup that featured stout defense, a big night from Brandon Ingram, and a decisive bench impact. The win moved the Raptors to 33-23 while the Bulls fell to 24-32.
Raptors Vs Bulls: Game flow and turning points
The Raptors controlled much of the game, building leads as large as 14 while Chicago never held a lead greater than three. Toronto opened with an early 10-2 advantage and leaned on defensive rotations to generate disruption; Chicago finished the first quarter with 11 turnovers as Toronto pressured the ball, chased loose rebounds and frequently sent double teams.
Offense was uneven early for Toronto — the visitors won the first quarter by a slim margin despite attempting 10 more field goals — but defensive stands and a 12-0 second-quarter run helped push the margin out. The Bulls mounted a late rally that forced some genuine clutch minutes, including a third-quarter surge capped by a buzzer-beating layup from Tre Jones off a defensive breakdown, but Toronto’s earlier push and a late-period stretch preserved the lead.
Individual highlights: Ingram, Walter and rotation moves
Brandon Ingram delivered the primary scoring punch, finishing with 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists while making 3 of 5 attempts from beyond the arc. Ingram supplied 17 first-half points and, despite not playing the final three minutes, his production set the tone for the win. The rest of the team combined for 4-of-18 from three-point range.
Ja’Kobe Walter emerged as a key contributor off the bench, scoring 14 points with four rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes. Walter’s activity on defense and two decisive plays from the left corner late in the third — one where he recovered his own missed three and finished with a reverse layup, and another three that pushed the lead to 78-64 — were singled out as influential to the final outcome. His performance strengthened the case for a more regular rotation spot.
There were notable roster adjustments: head coach Darko Rajakovic chose to bring Jakob Poeltl off the bench as he works back from an extended absence; that move returned Poeltl to a reserve role he had not occupied since December 2024. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles started in Poeltl’s place. With the entire roster available for just the fourth time this season, the bench units were able to operate in their usual roles and played well.
What mattered defensively and what to watch next
Defense was the consistent theme: the Raptors’ rotations created turnovers and limited high-percentage looks in the paint for long stretches. Jamal Shead generated an early offensive foul on Isaac Okoro, while Walter forced one on Collin Sexton, small plays that helped tilt possession outcomes. A midgame stretch of pressure and help defense delivered the separation Toronto needed.
For the Bulls, timely threes from Anfernee Simons helped halt some momentum in the second quarter, and Tre Jones’ late surge created urgency. Still, the combination of Toronto’s defense and Ingram’s scoring proved decisive.
These takeaways capture the key contours of the raptors vs bulls game: an offensively uneven but defensively sharp performance from the winners, a standout scoring night from Ingram, and a bench breakout that could influence rotation decisions moving forward. Details are drawn from the game recap and postgame observations surrounding the win; roster and role adjustments will be worth monitoring as the season progresses.
