Brandon Ingram Leaves Game 5 as Cavaliers – Raptors Shift to Friday

Brandon Ingram left Game 5 with heel inflammation, and the cavaliers – raptors series now swings to Friday with Toronto needing a home win to stay alive. He was listed as questionable for Game 6 after scoring one point before exiting in the second quarter.

Ingram’s Second-Quarter Exit

Ingram re-aggravated his heel on one play in the first half, Darko Rajakovic said, and the forward could not return after halftime. Rajakovic added that he tried to play the second half but was not able to, leaving Toronto without a player who averaged 21.5 points per game in 77 regular-season games.

The setback came during a night when Toronto already had to manage other problems. Scottie Barnes was injured in the first half with a quadriceps issue, then played 39 minutes and finished with 17 points and 11 assists after a three-point, three-assist second half.

Toronto’s Scoring Drop

The Raptors still had a chance despite losing 125-120 on Wednesday. They scored 74 points in the first half, then managed 46 in the second, a split that mirrors how the game tightened after Toronto had enough early production to stay in range.

RJ Barrett led Toronto with 25 points, while Jamal Shead and Ja'Kobe Walter combined for 27 points in the first half. But their efficiency fell off later, with the two guards going 4-of-17 from the field and 3-of-13 from three-point range after halftime.

Friday at Home

Toronto now has to win at home on Friday to force a Game 7. Ingram entered the series averaging 12 points per game, and his 7 points on 3-of-15 shooting in Toronto's Game 2 loss in Cleveland already showed how much his production had dipped from the regular season.

Jamal Shead put the issue plainly after Game 5: “I think having him not be 100 per cent hurt us at the end,” and “But I think we were still right there. With him being hobbled, with [Ingram] being out, we were still right there.”