The Toronto Raptors are facing a must-win situation without one of their key players. Forward Brandon Ingram was ruled out for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, sidelined by a sore right heel, according to head coach Darko Rajakovic.

Ingram, a two-time All-Star, exited the court midway through the second quarter of Wednesday's 125-120 loss in Cleveland. He managed just one point in 11 minutes before leaving the game. This injury comes at a critical time for the Raptors, who trail the series 3-2 and face elimination on their home court.

After a strong regular season debut in Toronto—where he averaged 21.5 points per game—Ingram has struggled to find his rhythm in the playoffs. Through five games against the Cavaliers, he's averaged only 12 points, shooting 19-for-58 from the field and 5-for-13 from beyond the arc. His absence leaves a significant scoring gap for the Raptors to fill.

Despite the odds, there's a silver lining for Toronto: the home team has won every game in this series so far. With the crowd behind them, the Raptors will look to force a Game 7. Cleveland, meanwhile, aims to close out the series and advance to the next round.