The all-star forward was downgraded from questionable to doubtful by the club hours before hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 on Friday night. Cleveland leads the best-of-seven playoff matchup 3-2.
In some good news for the Raptors, Scottie Barnes is available to play on Friday despite also getting banged up in Game 5. Immanuel Quickley, ruled out earlier for the series, remains sidelined with an injured hamstring.
Ingram left midway through the second quarter of Wednesday’s 125-120 road loss in Game 5 to the Cavaliers. The two-time all-star aggravated inflammation in his right heel and the Raptors say it has not improved despite a day of rest.
“Be ready to play either way,” said guard RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont. “Obviously, B.I.’s a crazy important piece for us.
“But I think we just have to be ready to go either way.”
Ingram has averaged 14.8 points in the series and had a 23-point performance in Toronto’s Game 4 victory Sunday. Ingram was 0 for 2 from the field and had one point, one rebound and two assists in 11 minutes Wednesday before departing.
Ja’Kobe Walter, a second-year guard who had stepped into a starter’s role with Quickley ruled out for the series, will likely see more touches in the Raptors’ offence if Ingram can’t go in Game 6.
“At the end of the day, we’ll be ready regardless whether he plays or not,” Walter said after Toronto’s morning shootaround at the OVO Athletic Centre. “I don’t really see it any type of different. I’m going to take the open shots when I have them.
“Still just do what I’ve got to do to win. If that comes with taking more shots, it comes with taking more shots. If it comes with playing more defence, it comes with playing more defence.”
Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points in the regular season while playing in 77 games, the second most of his career.
