The Toronto Raptors may have escaped with a one-point win Wednesday night, but they did not come away unscathed. Brandon Ingram exited Toronto’s 97-96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter with a right thumb sprain and did not return. While early imaging offered relief, Ingram’s availability now looms as a key variable for a Raptors team quietly positioning itself as a legitimate Eastern Conference contender.
Ingram finished with six points, two assists, and three blocks in just under 11 minutes before heading to the locker room. X-rays on his right thumb came back negative, and head coach Darko Rajaković labeled the All-Star forward as day-to-day after the game.
“He just sprained his right thumb,” Rajaković told reporters. “We did X-rays that came out negative. At this point, he’s day-to-day.”
Ingram’s Role in Toronto’s Resurgence
The timing of the injury is less than ideal. Toronto entered Wednesday’s game seeking its third straight win and remains firmly in the thick of the Eastern Conference race, sitting just one game behind the Boston Celtics in the standings for the three seed. Ingram’s play has been a crucial factor is the Raptors’ surprising rise.
Through 37 games this season, the 28-year-old is averaging 22.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.3% from three-point range. His ability to score at all three levels, mid-range pull-ups, downhill attacks, and spot-up shooting, has given Toronto a reliable half-court engine it lacked at times in recent seasons.
Even on a night when his shot hadn’t fully settled, Ingram made his presence felt defensively against the Hornets. He blocked three shots in the first half, helping Toronto control the paint before the thumb injury forced his early exit.
If Ingram misses time, Toronto’s rotation will be tested. Ja’Kobe Walter started the second half in his place, while Ochai Agbaji and Sandro Mamukelashvili are expected to see expanded roles. The Raptors are also still without center Jakob Poeltl, who remains sidelined with a lower back injury.
That margin for error is thin. Ingram ranks among the league leaders in total minutes played and has yet to miss a game this season, an encouraging sign given that injuries limited him to just 18 appearances last year.
Why It Matters
Toronto’s playoff ceiling is tied closely to Ingram’s availability. Since arriving in a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans last season and later signing a three-year, $120 million extension, he has become both the Raptors’ primary scorer and a stabilizing presence on both ends of the floor.
The Raptors have been one of the best two-point scoring teams in the league this season shooting 55.1 percent as a team (12th best in the league) while also being a top-five defense (4th best defensive rating).
With Ingram helping take away Scottie Barnes need to initiate offense, the Raptors have gotten much better at taking care of the ball as well as they are top-five in assist per game and commit the only 14.1 turnovers per game (9th in the NBA). Last season they were bottom-ten in turnovers committed (23rd). Safe to say that Ingram’s presence in his first full season with the Raptors has brought a calming force to coach Rajaković’s offense.
A short absence may be manageable. Anything longer could force Toronto to recalibrate its offensive identity during a crucial stretch of the season. For now, the Raptors can breathe, but not relax.