Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram will not return to Wednesday night’s matchup after suffering a right thumb sprain during the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets.
The 28-year-old star left the game at the 5:58 mark of the second quarter after jamming his thumb while attempting to defend Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel. X-rays taken during the game came back negative, according to TSN’s Kayla Gray, offering some relief to the team and fans.
Impact on Raptors vs Hornets Matchup
Before exiting, Ingram logged nearly 11 minutes of action, recording six points on 2-of-7 shooting, along with three blocks and two assists. Sophomore guard Ja’Kobe Walter entered the starting lineup to begin the second half, with additional playing time expected for Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick.
The timing couldn’t be more challenging for Toronto, which entered Wednesday having won four of its last five games. The Raptors trailed Charlotte 2-1 in their season series heading into what was scheduled as their final regular-season meeting.
Ingram’s Stellar Season Performance
Acquired at last season’s trade deadline and later signed to a three-year, $120 million extension, Ingram has been instrumental in Toronto’s lineup this season. The versatile forward entered Wednesday averaging a team-high 22.2 points, along with 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 37 appearances while shooting 47.6 percent from the field.
Notably, Ingram had not missed a single game this season despite coming off a 2024-25 campaign limited to just 18 games due to an ankle injury.
What’s Next
The extent of Ingram’s absence remains uncertain pending further evaluation. His next opportunity to suit up comes Friday when Toronto visits the Boston Celtics. The Raptors will monitor his status closely as they look to maintain their recent momentum without their leading scorer.
Fantasy basketball managers and fans alike will be watching the team’s injury updates in the coming days as Toronto navigates this setback to a key contributor.
