Toronto Raptors Brandon Ingram Leaves Game 5 After 11:22
Toronto Raptors Brandon Ingram left Game 5 after 11:22 with inflammation in his right heel, and Toronto still fell 125-120 to Cleveland on Wednesday night. The loss pushed the Raptors behind 3-2 in the first-round series, putting Friday night’s Game 6 at Scotiabank Arena into sharper focus.
Brandon Ingram’s early exit
Ingram’s night ended quickly in Cleveland. He was on the floor for just 11:22 before the heel issue forced him out, a problem that had already bothered him toward the end of the regular season.
Toronto needed his shot-making against a Cavaliers team that had already seen him across the season. The Raptors had gone 3-0 against Cleveland in the regular season and entered Game 5 with a 5-2 edge overall after their win in Game 4 on Sunday.
Scottie Barnes carries the load
Scottie Barnes took on more of the burden after colliding with Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant on a drive in the second quarter and bruising his thigh. He played 39 minutes and finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, three blocked shots and a steal.
Barnes was far less effective after halftime. He scored three points and had three assists in 20 second-half minutes while going 0-of-6 from the floor.
“The way they guard him, his shot-making ability. When he's out there on the floor, he makes big plays for us. We need him out there.”
Scotiabank Arena on Friday
Barnes said the thigh issue changed how he could move late in the game. “Obviously it had some effect,” he said, adding, “[I] couldn't play with that same pace that I was trying to play with, just having a little limp out there, but, you know, I was just trying to push through it, trying to win the game … just gotta get some recovery, let it rest a little bit, be ready for Friday.”
Toronto now goes home needing a cleaner injury night from its top end and a better shooting stretch from Barnes if it wants to stay alive. Ingram’s availability for Game 6 remains a major swing point, because the Raptors have already shown they can hang with Cleveland when their best options are on the floor.
