The Toronto Raptors will have to continue their playoff push without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley. The team announced on Friday that Quickley has reinjured his right hamstring during the rehabilitation process for a return to the court.
Quickley has not played since the regular-season finale against the Brooklyn Nets and has missed 13 of Toronto's last 16 games due to plantar fasciitis and a previous hamstring injury. The Raptors trail the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1 in their first-round series after a home win on Thursday. It was hoped Quickley would return at some point in the series, but that is no longer an option.
Impact on the Raptors
Quickley, the team's most proven point guard and best pull-up shooter, has been sorely missed. He also made strides this season as a perimeter defender. In 70 starts, he averaged 16.4 points, a career-high 5.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 31.9 minutes.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic had stated on Thursday that Quickley had not yet met certain benchmarks required to return. Allowing Quickley to play against the Nets may have been a misstep, though there is no official proof that the hamstring issue is directly related to the plantar fasciitis in his right leg and foot.
Adjustments Without Quickley
The Raptors started Jamal Shead in the first two games of the series and then turned to fellow sophomore Ja'Kobe Walter in Game 3, shifting playmaking duties to Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. That adjustment paid off, as both Barnes and Barrett have been outstanding.
- Scottie Barnes is averaging 26.7 points, 7.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game in the series, shooting 56% from the field.
- RJ Barrett is averaging 26.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.
- Jamal Shead has 11 assists but eight turnovers in three games, while Brandon Ingram has nine assists and eight turnovers.
Other players will need to step up in Quickley's absence. It remains unclear if Quickley could return for a potential second-round series should Toronto win three more games against Cleveland.
Series Continues Sunday
The series resumes in Toronto on Sunday afternoon. The Raptors will look to even the series and continue their playoff run without their starting point guard.
