Deadspin | Scottie Barnes, Raptors surge past Heat 
Apr 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis (25) controls the ball as Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) defends during the first quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Scottie Barnes scored 25 points and Brandon Ingram added 23, leading the Toronto Raptors to a 121-95 victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Tuesday.
Jakob Poeltl had 17 points while RJ Barrett chipped in 16 for the Raptors (44-35), who pulled within a game of the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference standings. Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 11 points off the bench for Toronto, which had dropped three of its previous four games.
Miami (41-38) was paced by Andrew Wiggins’ 24 points, followed by Tyler Herro and Norman Powell scoring 14 points apiece. The Heat shot just 27.3% (12 of 44) on 3-point attempts, dropping their ninth game in 12 tries.
Toronto pushed its 13-point halftime lead to 84-66 after Barrett’s layup stamped a 7-0 spurt.
Powell scored five in a row to pull the Heat within 13, but Barnes’ triple and subsequent dunk closed the third and gave the Raptors a 94-76 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Toronto took its first 20-point edge on Poeltl’s layup with 10:49 remaining, extending the lead to 97-76. Ja’Kobe Walter sank his third 3-pointer of the night at the 6:06 mark, extending the lopsided score to 109-85.
The Raptors deployed their bench with less than three minutes left, with a few baskets from reserve Jamison Battle punctuating the win.
Toronto made five 3-pointers in the opening quarter and took a 32-27 lead into the second. A pair of Bam Adebayo free throws gave Miami a two-point edge before Barrett’s three-point play punctuated a 12-2 run to give the Raptors a 46-38 lead.
Ingram and Barrett’s back-to-back makes put the Raptors ahead 53-40, forcing a Miami timeout with 4:58 remaining in the first half.
Barnes’ three-point play and Ingram’s dunk pushed Toronto’s advantage to 64-47 before Miami scored the last four points of the first half to cut its deficit to 13. Ingram had a game-high 15 first-half points, while Wiggins’ 11 paced the Heat.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Scottie #Barnes #Raptors #surge #Heat
Apr 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis (25) controls the ball as Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) defends during the first quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Scottie Barnes scored 25 points and Brandon Ingram added 23, leading the Toronto Raptors to a 121-95 victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Tuesday.
Jakob Poeltl had 17 points while RJ Barrett chipped in 16 for the Raptors (44-35), who pulled within a game of the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference standings. Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 11 points off the bench for Toronto, which had dropped three of its previous four games.
Miami (41-38) was paced by Andrew Wiggins’ 24 points, followed by Tyler Herro and Norman Powell scoring 14 points apiece. The Heat shot just 27.3% (12 of 44) on 3-point attempts, dropping their ninth game in 12 tries.
Toronto pushed its 13-point halftime lead to 84-66 after Barrett’s layup stamped a 7-0 spurt.
Powell scored five in a row to pull the Heat within 13, but Barnes’ triple and subsequent dunk closed the third and gave the Raptors a 94-76 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Toronto took its first 20-point edge on Poeltl’s layup with 10:49 remaining, extending the lead to 97-76. Ja’Kobe Walter sank his third 3-pointer of the night at the 6:06 mark, extending the lopsided score to 109-85.
The Raptors deployed their bench with less than three minutes left, with a few baskets from reserve Jamison Battle punctuating the win.
Toronto made five 3-pointers in the opening quarter and took a 32-27 lead into the second. A pair of Bam Adebayo free throws gave Miami a two-point edge before Barrett’s three-point play punctuated a 12-2 run to give the Raptors a 46-38 lead.
Ingram and Barrett’s back-to-back makes put the Raptors ahead 53-40, forcing a Miami timeout with 4:58 remaining in the first half.
Barnes’ three-point play and Ingram’s dunk pushed Toronto’s advantage to 64-47 before Miami scored the last four points of the first half to cut its deficit to 13. Ingram had a game-high 15 first-half points, while Wiggins’ 11 paced the Heat.
–Field Level Media
![Carrick hopeful of Cunha return as Manchester United hosts Liverpool in Champions League race Manchester United boss Michael Carrick is hopeful Matheus Cunha will be fit to return when his side hosts Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday in one of football’s fiercest rivalries, with both teams chasing Champions League qualification.United, third in the Premier League, needs two more points to secure a top-five finish and a return to Europe’s elite competition next season, while fourth-placed Liverpool is looking to strengthen its own Champions League position in a congested race.Carrick said Cunha had returned to light training after a recent setback.“We are in good shape really,” Carrick told reporters on Friday. “Matheus has done a little bit of work, so we are hopeful. With Luke [Shaw], we aren’t sure if he will be ready but we are hopeful. Matthijs [de Ligt] is still a little bit further, he won’t be involved in the game.“Other than that, we are in good shape.”The possible return of Cunha, who missed Monday’s 2-1 win over Brentford with a hip flexor injury, would be a timely boost for United in a fixture Carrick said retains its intensity regardless of league position.“It’s certainly always been one of my favourite games, without a doubt. It is a standout game,” he said.“Because of the history, the ups and downs this match-up has produced in the past, the entertainment and the emotion, all of those things make it a really special game.”United has climbed steadily since Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim midway through the campaign, putting itself in position to finish above holder Liverpool and secure Champions League football with games to spare.“It shows the improvements of the group, we are getting stronger,” Carrick said. “We come into this game in such a good position off the back of good results and trying to achieve what we want.“But it is a one-off game. The league position is what it is but Sunday’s a whole different ball game.”Carrick has also restored academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo to the heart of the side, with the midfielder recently signing a new five-year deal after being marginalised earlier in the season under Amorim.ALSO READ: Jose Mourinho says no contact has been made with Real Madrid“He epitomises this football club,” Carrick said. “He is a young player who has come through the academy, is living and breathing the club, and has come through with real talent.“The natural thing for him was to sign a new contract so everyone is over the moon with it, including me because I think he deserves it.”Mainoo has started 12 of Carrick’s 13 league matches in charge, missing one game due to injury, underlining his renewed importance as United looks to finish strongly.Despite the league stakes, Carrick stressed the wider significance of a fixture that has shaped English football for decades.“When I think about this game, the first thing that comes to mind is that air of competition really, irrespective of league positions over the years,” he said. “That emotion of the players and supporters has never changed.“Two incredible football clubs … to have such an impact over such a period of time is quite special and we all appreciate that.”United has 61 points from 34 games, 12 behind leader Arsenal, while Liverpool is three points behind United and level on points with fifth-placed Aston Villa.Published on May 01, 2026 #Carrick #hopeful #Cunha #return #Manchester #United #hosts #Liverpool #Champions #League #race](https://i0.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/65qm0v/article70929338.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/2026-04-18T190824Z_1934087911_UP1EM4I1H5YY8_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-CHE-MUN.JPG?ssl=1 "Carrick hopeful of Cunha return as Manchester United hosts Liverpool in Champions League race Manchester United boss Michael Carrick is hopeful Matheus Cunha will be fit to return when his side hosts Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday in one of football’s fiercest rivalries, with both teams chasing Champions League qualification.United, third in the Premier League, needs two more points to secure a top-five finish and a return to Europe’s elite competition next season, while fourth-placed Liverpool is looking to strengthen its own Champions League position in a congested race.Carrick said Cunha had returned to light training after a recent setback.“We are in good shape really,” Carrick told reporters on Friday. “Matheus has done a little bit of work, so we are hopeful. With Luke [Shaw], we aren’t sure if he will be ready but we are hopeful. Matthijs [de Ligt] is still a little bit further, he won’t be involved in the game.“Other than that, we are in good shape.”The possible return of Cunha, who missed Monday’s 2-1 win over Brentford with a hip flexor injury, would be a timely boost for United in a fixture Carrick said retains its intensity regardless of league position.“It’s certainly always been one of my favourite games, without a doubt. It is a standout game,” he said.“Because of the history, the ups and downs this match-up has produced in the past, the entertainment and the emotion, all of those things make it a really special game.”United has climbed steadily since Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim midway through the campaign, putting itself in position to finish above holder Liverpool and secure Champions League football with games to spare.“It shows the improvements of the group, we are getting stronger,” Carrick said. “We come into this game in such a good position off the back of good results and trying to achieve what we want.“But it is a one-off game. The league position is what it is but Sunday’s a whole different ball game.”Carrick has also restored academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo to the heart of the side, with the midfielder recently signing a new five-year deal after being marginalised earlier in the season under Amorim.ALSO READ: Jose Mourinho says no contact has been made with Real Madrid“He epitomises this football club,” Carrick said. “He is a young player who has come through the academy, is living and breathing the club, and has come through with real talent.“The natural thing for him was to sign a new contract so everyone is over the moon with it, including me because I think he deserves it.”Mainoo has started 12 of Carrick’s 13 league matches in charge, missing one game due to injury, underlining his renewed importance as United looks to finish strongly.Despite the league stakes, Carrick stressed the wider significance of a fixture that has shaped English football for decades.“When I think about this game, the first thing that comes to mind is that air of competition really, irrespective of league positions over the years,” he said. “That emotion of the players and supporters has never changed.“Two incredible football clubs … to have such an impact over such a period of time is quite special and we all appreciate that.”United has 61 points from 34 games, 12 behind leader Arsenal, while Liverpool is three points behind United and level on points with fifth-placed Aston Villa.Published on May 01, 2026 #Carrick #hopeful #Cunha #return #Manchester #United #hosts #Liverpool #Champions #League #race")
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