Brandon Ingram reminded everyone why he was once the ACC's top freshman, erupting for a season-high 38 points to power the Toronto Raptors past the Miami Heat on Thursday night. The former Duke star was in a sublime rhythm, connecting on an efficient 66.7% from beyond the arc while stuffing the stat sheet with seven rebounds, seven assists, and a steal.

His dominant performance couldn't have been more timely for a Raptors squad locked in a fierce battle for Eastern Conference positioning. With the playoffs looming, Ingram's offensive explosion secured a crucial second straight win, helping Toronto maintain its grip on fifth place.

Speaking after the game, Ingram highlighted the importance of finding a groove now. "It's a good time to be in rhythm going into these playoffs," he said. "We take it game by game, try to get better... These last two games [are] a chance for us to have a focus and take things serious."

With just a slim buffer over the Play-In Tournament spots, the Raptors now control their own destiny for a direct playoff berth. If Ingram continues to channel his Duke-era pedigree with this kind of all-around excellence, Toronto will be a tough out for anyone come postseason.