If the Toronto Raptors are going to overcome a 2-1 series deficit, they’ll have to do it without their starting point guard.
Immanuel Quickley has been ruled out for the remainder of the Raptors first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team announced on Friday.
Quickley had yet to play during the post-season, as the 26-year-old suffered a hamstring injury while playing in the Raptors’ regular-season finale against the Brooklyn Nets on April 12. He left that contest after 17 minutes of action, in what was just his third game back after missing eight consecutive appearances with plantar fasciitis.
According to the Raptors, Quickley re-injured his hamstring while going through the rehabilitation process for a return to the court.
The Raptors floor general played 70 games — his most since joining Toronto — and averaged 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, a career-high 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 37.5 per cent from beyond the arc.
The Raptors have primarily started sophomore Jamal Shead in Quickley’s absence during the playoffs, but swapped in Ja’Kobe Walter to the starting lineup ahead of their Game 3 win in Toronto.
Game 4 tips off at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT on Sunday.