Quickley’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts Raptors Over Hornets in Thrilling Finish
Tonight, the Toronto Raptors pulled off a dramatic comeback against the Charlotte Hornets, stealing a 97-96 victory with a last-second three-pointer from Immanuel Quickley. The Raptors had been trailing by ten points in the fourth quarter, but a surge led by RJ Barrett, who finished with 28 points, helped flip the game in Toronto’s favor. Quickley, who scored 21 points, capped it off with a clutch shot from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded, leaving the home crowd stunned.
The Hornets had looked strong early, jumping out to an 11-2 lead, and they carried a five-point advantage into halftime. LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton led the scoring for Charlotte, with Ball delivering a driving layup in the closing seconds that briefly put the Hornets ahead. But turnovers proved costly for Charlotte—they committed 18 compared to just six for Toronto—which opened the door for the Raptors to stage their rally.
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Toronto’s shooting from beyond the arc had struggled for most of the night, connecting on only three of 27 attempts through the first three quarters. That changed in the fourth quarter, where they went four of seven from deep, including Barrett’s go-ahead three-pointer with just over five minutes left. Scottie Barnes also contributed 17 points, providing the Raptors with the balanced scoring needed to overcome the deficit.
This win marks Toronto’s fifth victory in their last six games, highlighting a team that seems to be hitting its stride at a critical point in the season. For Charlotte, the loss is a setback after an upset win over the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier in the week. The Hornets showed flashes of potential but struggled to maintain consistency, particularly in handling the ball under pressure.
Tonight’s game is trending not just for the dramatic ending but also because it reflects the Raptors’ growing identity as a resilient, clutch team. Quickley’s buzzer-beater became the highlight, but the win was built on teamwork, key defensive stops, and timely shooting down the stretch. Fans are buzzing over the kind of excitement that only a tight, back-and-forth matchup can produce.
Looking ahead, Toronto heads to Boston to face the Celtics, hoping to carry this momentum into another challenging matchup. The Hornets, meanwhile, will look to regroup at home against the Indiana Pacers, aiming to fix the mistakes that cost them a game they led late. For now, Raptors fans can savor a thrilling road win and a reminder that in the NBA, games are never over until the buzzer sounds.
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