The first-round matchup between the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers will move to Toronto for Game 3 after the Cavs took the first two games to begin the series.
One question that remains is the status of Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley, who is yet to return from the mild hamstring strain he suffered on April 12. Toronto ruled the guard out for Game 3 against the Cavaliers, NBA insider Danny Cunningham reported.
With Quickley missing a third straight game to begin the postseason, the Raptors will lean on second-year guard Jamal Shead in the starting lineup for Game 3. Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter have stepped up for Toronto in point guard duties.
Details on Immanuel Quickley’s Injury
Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley has been dealt multiple injuries to close out the second half of the 2025-26 regular season.
To begin the new calendar year, Quickley suffered a back injury on Jan. 12 that resulted in him missing two games for the Raptors. He would return from the upper-body injury before missing eight consecutive games from March 23 to April 5 due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
In the regular-season finale against the Brooklyn Nets, Quickley suffered a mild hamstring strain that has lingered since the injury on April 12. Despite being labeled as questionable for each game of their first-round series, Quickley would later be ruled out for each.
His absence may be the reason the Raptors are struggling to begin the series. Toronto has been without the 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists that Immanuel Quickley averaged on 44.3/37.4/82.1 shooting splits throughout the regular season.
Quickley’s next opportunity to suit up for the Raptors will be in Game 4 on April 26.
Raptors vs. Cavaliers Game 3 Preview
The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of home-court advantage in Games 1 and 2, beating the Toronto Raptors by double-digit points in each game.
Toronto’s young combination of RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes has continued to produce in the postseason. Both players posted over 20 points in each contest. However, the Raptors are still waiting for Brandon Ingram to reach the potential he has in the series.
Ingram has struggled to get anything going in the first two contests against the Cavaliers. In Game 1, Cleveland limited the 28-year-old to 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field. He expressed his frustrations after the loss in Game 1, but wasn’t able to turn things around.
In Game 2, Brandon Ingram found more looks, but failed to do much with the opportunity. In 36 minutes, Ingram finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 3-for-15 from the field.
On top of this, the Raptors will look to stop the momentum that Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley currently have. In Game 2, the trio combined for 83 points.
Being able to force turnovers has been a key to the Cavaliers’ success. Cleveland forced 18 turnovers in Game 1 and one-upped this number in Game 2, forcing 22.
With Thursday’s matchup in Toronto, the Raptors will have to do everything possible to flip the series around in front of their home crowd. The Raptors are seeking their first home postseason win in nearly four years, dating back to April 25, 2022.
Raptors Make Immanuel Quickley Announcement Ahead of Game 3 vs. Cavaliers