The Toronto Raptors saw their season come to an end on Sunday night.
Brandon Ingram couldn’t do anything to help prevent the elimination, as he was out with a heel injury for the second straight game.
With a 114-102 loss in Game 7, the impressive run from the Raptors concludes in round one. And while the future is still bright in Toronto, it’s a tough pill to swallow for a player like Ingram, who was robbed of the opportunity to bounce back.
Brandon Ingram Opens Up On His Setback
“It’s something that I’ve been dealing with since it flared up in March, and I had no time to rest it,” Ingram told reporters.
“We were trying to make the playoffs. Coming off last season and playing 18 games, I really prided myself on trying to be out there every single night. It got to a point–it got to a discomfort that–I couldn’t push off of it. I couldn’t do the things on the floor that I needed to do to be effective. Going out in Game 5 or Game 6, I went to the back, and I was trying to come back, and the medical staff kind of ruled me out because they were trying to save me from myself a little bit. That was frustrating. I definitely wanted to be out there with my team.”
Ingram started the playoffs on a slow note. He scored just 36 points through the first three games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, shooting under 40.0%.
Even when Ingram crossed the 20-point threshold in Game 4, he did it while shooting 26.1% from the field. Something was clearly off, and an 11-minute showing in Game 5 exposed the reality of the situation; Ingram could not play at his best level.
There’s Always Next Year
The veteran forward stated that he believes the Raptors could’ve won had he played the remainder of the series. As frustrating as the situation was for Ingram, he avoided a significant setback by pushing through the heel soreness. The star forward will get proper rest and recovery.
Ingram has another guaranteed year on the books with the Raptors for 2026-2027. He also has a $41.9 million option for 2027-2028.
Considering how successful the two-time All-Star was during his first run in Toronto, Ingram is likely to play another critical role for the team next season, as they look to become playoff regulars in the Eastern Conference.