The Toronto Raptors will likely be without Brandon Ingram for the biggest game of the season. Trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-2, Toronto is in must-win territory at home Friday night. However, the team said on Friday morning that Ingram, its regular-season scoring leader, had been downgraded from questionable to doubtful for the game.
Ingram's Injury Struggles
Ingram had been dealing with right heel inflammation late in the regular season, but it didn't appear to be bothering him much. However, he struggled against the Cavaliers, shooting only 32.8% from the field with 10 turnovers and left Game 5 after only 11 minutes and two points.
Even though Ingram has been sub-par, if he can't play, it would deal a potentially fatal blow to the Raptors' chances of extending the series. Already minus starting point guard Immanuel Quickley the entire playoffs, Toronto would now lose its other best shot-maker.
Impact on the Team
Ingram generates a lot of attention from defenders, making the game easier for the other Raptor attackers. As well, the odds were good that a player of his calibre would have a good game at some point. Maybe that will be Game 7, but Toronto will have to win Friday to make that a possibility.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic had earlier said, "The way they decided to guard him, it's opening up a lot of stuff for us. I know one thing, that he's creating a lot of gravity for a reason, and then that's opening up a lot of stuff for the whole team."
Rajakovic has started both Ja'Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead at different times against the Cavaliers and now might need to put both in the starting lineup, though Sandro Mamukelashvili or Collin Murray-Boyles also could be options if he wants to try something different. Cleveland's injury report is clear.
