The Raptors will still be without their starting point guard for their first-round matchup against the Cavaliers.
Immanuel Quickley aggravated his already strained right hamstring while working his way back from injury and will be unavailable for the remainder of the series, the Raptors announced Friday.
Quickley, 26, has already missed the first three games of the playoffs due to the injury, which he suffered during Toronto’s regular season finale against the Nets after missing multiple games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
After injuries plagued Quickley’s 2024-25 season with the Raptors, he established himself as Toronto’s starting point guard this season, averaging 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 44.3 percent in 70 games.
Second-year NBA guard Jamal Shead is starting in Quickley’s place against Cleveland, averaging 7.3 points and 2.3 steals in the series thus far.
“We missed Quickley big time with the way he gets us organized and his shooting helps our team out,” Toronto head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters following the Raptors’ 126-113 Game 1 loss to Cleveland, according to the Associated Press. “I like Jamal’s defense and what we need on the court.
“We wanted to have multiple ball handlers on the floor with Jamal.”
Toronto’s 126-104 victory over the Cavaliers on Thursday snapped a 12-game playoff losing streak against the club — which dates back to LeBron James’ tenure with Cleveland — and cut the series deficit to 2-1.
Two-time All-Star forward Scottie Barnes led the way for Toronto on Thursday, setting career playoff highs in both points (33) and assists (11), while shooting 11-of-17 from the field.
“We knew we needed everybody for this win and you’ve seen some big performances from everybody,” Barnes told reporters following the game. “It just goes to show how resilient, how bad we wanted it. We went out there and tried to do whatever it took.”
Rajakovic lauded Barnes’ Game 3 performance, saying that he “did everything for us tonight.”
