The Toronto Raptors couldn’t complete a comeback on Saturday, losing Game 1 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 126-113. Following the loss, Raptors star Brandon Ingram felt disappointed in how his game played out.
“At the end of the day, me shooting nine shots is not going to win basketball games,” Ingram said, according to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. “Got to figure out ways where I could still be effective.”
This quote didn’t sit right with Lou Williams of Run It Back. The insider mentioned that it’s good that the Raptors’ star player is noticing these issues, but that they shouldn’t be made public.
“I would have preferred that this message was behind the curtain, and not out in the public,” Williams said. “Sometimes your emotions are running high, and you have an expectation level for yourself. But I like the mindset… I would have preferred that conversation be had in private, as opposed to being out in public.”
Brandon Ingram’s Frustrating Game 1 Performance
Heading into the half, the Raptors kept Game 1 close, going down by seven heading into the break. However, Toronto continued the struggles, losing the third quarter to the Cavs 36-22. Cleveland’s largest lead of the game would reach 24 points.
Brandon Ingram’s frustrations largely fell in the second half as well. He was able to put up just one shot attempt in the final two quarters (two others weren’t counted due to him getting fouled). 13 of his 17 points scored in the game came in the first half. He registered just four free throws made in the 24 minutes of action.
To finish up the frustrating second half for Toronto and Brandon Ingram, the 28-year-old was checked out for good with nearly half of the fourth quarter remaining.
“Well, coach wanted to use me as a screener. Also he noticed that my man wasn’t coming off me so he wanted me outside of the action and being a receiver,” Ingram told reporters after the Game 1 loss.
“I’m not satisfied with that at all,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said in postgame interviews. “We’ve got to do a better job of executing, freeing him up and playing to our standards of ball movement. Some of that is on me, but we as a group have to do better.”
Raptors Look to Respond in Game 2
Game 2 of Raptors-Cavaliers kicks off Monday’s slate of games. Heading into the contest already down 1-0, Brandon Ingram and the Raptors will look to even the series at one a piece.
Although Ingram’s Saturday night was frustrating, there were positives that came out of the loss.
The Raptors entered the fourth quarter of Game 1 down 21 points. They were able to cut into the lead and reduce it to 13 before the final buzzer sounded. Without Immanuel Quickley, who continues to battle a right hamstring strain, Jamal Shead stepped into the starting lineup and contributed 17 points.
RJ Barrett (24 points) and Scottie Barnes (21 points) combined for 45 while shooting 13-for-27 from the field and adding six threes.
With Brandon Ingram taking nine shots in Game 1, the Raptors will look to adjust and respond on Monday before hosting Games 3 and 4 in Toronto to finish off the week.
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