The Toronto Raptors face a major injury concern ahead of a crucial Game 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with All-Star forward Brandon Ingram now listed as doubtful due to a heel problem.
Ingram, who has been a key offensive piece for Toronto this season, aggravated the injury during Game 5 after previously dealing with heel issues late in the regular season. He managed just 11 minutes in the 125–120 loss, finishing with one point and two assists before being forced out.
The injury first surfaced earlier in the campaign, causing him to miss several games, but after returning for the closing stretch and opening playoff contests, the issue has now resurfaced at the worst possible moment for the Raptors.
Head coach Darko Rajaković confirmed after Game 5 that Ingram had re-aggravated the injury mid-game. The medical staff attempted to re-tape and assess him at halftime, but he was unable to continue.
Toronto now faces an elimination scenario with their playoff survival on the line—and potentially without their leading scorer, who averaged 21.5 points per game during the regular season.
If Ingram is ruled out, much of the offensive responsibility will fall on Scottie Barnes, who is also managing a quad issue but is expected to be available. Barnes has already been one of the standout performers in the series and will likely be asked to elevate his role further.
The series between the Raptors and Cavaliers has been one of the most competitive matchups of the first round. Cleveland opened with a 2–0 lead, only for Toronto to respond and level the series at 2–2, setting up a tense finish.
However, Cleveland edged Game 5, shifting momentum back in their favour heading into Game 6.
With elimination looming and uncertainty around Ingram’s availability, Toronto’s task has become significantly more difficult. The Raptors have shown resilience throughout the series, but Friday’s matchup may require their deepest performance yet to extend their postseason run.
