Raptors Aim for 10 Straight as Hornets Test Their Momentum
If you think back to the last time the Toronto Raptors rattled off 10 straight wins, you’d have to rewind all the way to February 2020. That was the post-championship team—no Kawhi, but still stacked with veteran poise and a battle-tested identity. It honestly feels like another lifetime. Fast-forward to now, and even though this current roster doesn’t have that championship pedigree, there are some surprising parallels. There’s a steady big man in the middle, Jakob Poeltl taking on the Marc Gasol role. There’s a young core with just a few veterans sprinkled in. And once again, the “bench mob” energy is real, with fresh legs impacting every game.
But here’s the key difference: this team still has everything to prove. And tonight’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets is another chance to show that the hot start isn’t some early-season illusion. With a chance to push their winning streak to 10 and move within half a game of first place in the East, motivation won’t be an issue.
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A lot of eyes will be on Brandon Ingram, whose arrival has completely altered the Raptors’ trajectory. His clutch-time swagger and playmaking have been a huge part of this sudden surge. With RJ Barrett sidelined recently, there was every reason to expect the offence to dip a bit. Instead, Ingram took even more responsibility, averaging more than 31 points over the last two games and hoisting up 53 shots in that span. And against a Hornets defence that has struggled badly—sixth-worst in the league and routinely giving up big nights to opposing stars—there’s no reason to think his usage drops.
Immanuel Quickley has kept things humming too. Even during a slight scoring lull, his playmaking has stayed consistent. He’s been the Raptors’ top distributor, averaging well over six assists recently and constantly creating clean looks for teammates. And since the Hornets rarely foul, more possessions end in shot attempts instead of free throws, which only increases assist chances.
Then there’s rookie sharpshooter Kon Knueppel on the Charlotte side. Whether or not LaMelo Ball or Brandon Miller sit out the second night of their back-to-back, Knueppel remains one of the key threats. His shooting stroke has already made him a Rookie of the Year favourite, and Toronto’s defence—though solid overall—still allows a high volume of threes. The last time these teams met, he burned them for 24 points with four makes from deep. If the Raptors aren’t careful, he could easily heat up again.
All in all, the stage is set for a high-energy matchup. The Raptors have momentum, belief, and an opportunity to push deeper into contender territory. Now it’s just a matter of whether they can finish the job and extend the streak to double digits.
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