After Ingram was forced to miss the remainder of a Game 5 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors' star appears to be trending in the wrong direction for Game 6 availability.
Toronto is one loss away from being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs, and ahead of tonight's game, Ingram was downgraded from questionable to doubtful. The star left Wednesday's game with a cited heel injury that was later revealed to be heel inflammation.
If Ingram were unable to play tonight, it would put even more onus on Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett to put the ball in the hoop like never before, all while being on the brink of elimination. Collin Murray-Boyles, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and will all likely see more playing time tonight in the event of Ingram's absence.
Q&A
What is the latest update on Brandon Ingram's heel injury?
Brandon Ingram has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful due to heel inflammation.
How will Ingram's absence affect the Raptors in Game 6?
Ingram's absence will increase the scoring responsibilities for Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett as the Raptors face elimination.
What caused Brandon Ingram to miss Game 5 against the Cavaliers?
Ingram missed Game 5 due to a heel injury that was later identified as heel inflammation.
Who are the players likely to step up if Ingram cannot play?
If Ingram cannot play, Collin Murray-Boyles, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Jamison Battle are expected to see more playing time.
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Ahead of Toronto's win-or-go-home Game 6 matchup against the Cavaliers, Ingram was downgraded from questionable to doubtful with heel inflammation. If the Raptor were to be unable to suit up, it would be a tremendous blow to the team. Prior to his injury, Ingram was averaging 14.7 points during the team's first-round series.
Ingram's injury came in the second quarter of Wednesday's Game 5 in Cleveland, when the star went down with a heel injury. Toronto quickly ruled Ingram out for the game before the contest reached halftime.
Ingram played 11 minutes in the first half, producing just one point in that span. The Duke alum had one of the healthiest seasons in his career, after he appeared in 77 games this season. This total was the second-most of his career and his most since his rookie season.
Ingram's return is up in the air at the moment, with the star trending towards missing his first full game of the playoffs for Toronto.
Toronto would certainly love Ingram back as soon as possible, due to their dire circumstances of staying alive during this playoff series. However, with the team already downgrading him to doubtful ahead of tonight's game, Ingram's appearance seems to be trending in the wrong direction.
Due to the severity of Ingram's heel inflammation looming in the unknown, it is hard to predict how long it will take him to recover. During the regular season, Toronto may have been more willing to let one of its best players rest to ensure he comes back fully healthy. However, with the team down 3-2 in their opening round series, if Ingram is able to play, the Raptors wouldn't shy away from an opportunity to put him out on the hardwood.
A common heel injury that begins with inflammation is plantar fasciitis. If this is what Ingram has, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to fully recover for a non-professional athlete, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, it still remains unclear what specific injury Ingram has besides heel inflammation.
According to the NBA, Ingram's heel injury has been on and off for the last few weeks. After he went down in Game 5, trainers attempted to retape his heel, but he would still later be ruled out.
How Brandon Ingram's injury impacts Raptors' rotation
The most likely candidates to receive more playing time if Ingram were to be out for Game 6 are Collin Murray-Boyles or Sandro Mamukelashvili. These two would be the most likely to get bumped up to the starting lineup for Toronto.
Second-year player Jamison Battle also began receiving minutes just after Ingram went down during Game 5. After he went down, Battle accumulated 19 minutes and put up seven points and six rebounds.
Ingram's injury would put more pressure on Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett to perform at a higher level. Toronto's two leading scorers this postseason would have to continue playing at the peak of their game if the Raptors want any chance of forcing a Game 7 or better.
Raptors upcoming schedule
Toronto is currently trailing 3-2 in its series with Cleveland. While securing a win will certainly be harder without Ingram on the floor, Toronto will need to win tonight's game and Game 7 in Cleveland if they want to play either the Magic or Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
With the playoffs in full swing, the Raptors' schedule is contingent on whether they stay alive by winning games.
