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. The winner will face the winner of Sunday’s other Game 7 between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic (3:30 ET, ABC).
Tipoff of Sunday’s game is scheduled for 7:30 ET (NBC) in Cleveland.
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