The Toronto Raptors will be without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley as they begin their first-round NBA playoff series versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Quickley is out for Game 1 with a strained right hamstring he suffered in Toronto’s final regular-season game last Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets. He did not play the second half of that matchup after playing 17 minutes in the first half.
The six-year veteran missed eight games from late March to early April due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. There’s no indication the foot condition led to his hamstring injury, though it’s a possibility.
Quickley, 26, was the Raptors’ leading 3-point shooter this season with 476 attempts. His 37% rate was second among Toronto scorers to Brandon Ingram’s 38% (on 353 attempts). He was the team’s fourth-leading scorer, averaging 16.4 points per game with 5.9 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
As it applies to the matchup with the Cavaliers, Quickley would have been the primary defender on Donovan Mitchell. Jamal Shead will replace Quickley in the Toronto starting lineup and thus draw the defensive assignment on Mitchell, who led Cleveland in scoring with 27.9 points per game.
Scottie Barnes is regarded as the Raptors’ best defensive player, but will likely be occupied with checking James Harden (20.5 points per game) throughout the series.
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