Toronto Raptors All-Star Brandon Ingram showed up to morning shootaround in a walking boot and was downgraded from questionable to doubtful for Sunday’s Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram is now projected to miss a second consecutive game with a left heel injury that he sustained early in Game 5.
Ingram sustained the injury 11 minutes into Toronto’s Game 5 loss that gave Cleveland a 3-2 series lead. The Raptors played without Ingram in Game 6 and held on in overtime for a win to send the series to Game 7.
But now the Raptors are projected to play Sunday’s winner-take-all game without their leading scorer, leaving Toronto at a significant disadvantage. Ingram made his second career All-Star team this season, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.2% from 3.
If Ingram can’t play, Toronto will be left to depend on RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes to carry a heavier offensive load.
With Ingram out, Barnes paced Friday’s Game 6 win with 25 points, 14 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter scored 24 points each. Jamal Shead replaced Ingram in the starting lineup, posting 7 points and 6 assists while shooting 2 of 9 from the field.
The winner of Sunday’s game advances to the second round of the playoffs, and the loser’s season will be over. Tipoff of Sunday’s game is scheduled for 7:30 ET (NBC) in Cleveland. The winner will face the winner of Sunday’s other Game 7 between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic (3:30 ET, ABC).
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