Toronto Raptors Star Brandon Ingram Makes Honest Statement After Cavs Loss

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TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 07: Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors walks the floor during a break in play during the second half of their NBA game against the Boston Celtics at Scotiabank Arena on December 7, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

On Saturday, the Toronto Raptors played Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers (in Ohio).

The Raptors lost by a score of 126-113.

Brand Ingram finished with 17 points, two rebounds, four assists and one block while shooting 5/9 from the field in 36 minutes of playing time.

Underdog NBA wrote: “Brandon Ingram’s second half: 4 PTS 0-1 FG 0-0 3PT Raptors fall to 5-18 all-time in Game 1s.”

Brandon Ingram Makes Honest Statement

After the game, Ingram made an honest statement when he met with the media.

Ingram: “Coach wanted to use me as a screener… He noticed that my man wasn’t coming off of me. He wanted me outside of the action a little bit of being a receiver… At the end of the day, me shooting nine shots is not gonna win a basketball game.”

Ingram is in his first season playing for the Raptors.

He finished the regular season with averages of 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest while shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.2% from three-point range in 77 games.

Joel Moran of Pick a Side wrote during the game: “The Raptors half court offense is putrid and it’s enough of a reason to completely fade Toronto from winning more than 1 game in this series. Toronto is relying on tough Brandon Ingram middies and outside of that they can’t do anything Cavaliers are on a different tier”

Ingram And The Raptors

The Raptors have been one of the best feel good stories of the 2026 NBA season.

They are in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Ingram is a huge part of their success.

X User @sig_50 wrote: “It’s to the Raptors own demise if Brandon Ingram isn’t going to be a stable feature in their playoff structure. This is unacceptable (2nd Half Usage, Attempts): In order to attempt to win games this series they have to slow down, muck it up on defense and rely on tough-buckets.”

Before the Raptors, Ingram had spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans over ten seasons.

He is coming off a regular season where he made his second All-Star Game.

Game 2 of the series will be on Monday night before the teams head to Toronto for Games 3 and 4.

The Raptors last won a title in 2019.