Toronto Raptors fall to Cavaliers in Game 5 as Scottie Barnes battles injury concerns in playoffs

Toronto Raptors are facing elimination after a 125-120 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of their playoff series on Wednesday night.

Toronto now trails 3-2 in the best-of-seven series with Game 6 set for Friday at Scotiabank Arena.

The Raptors were hampered by injuries throughout the game as Scottie Barnes played through visible discomfort after taking a hit to his quad and later being struck in the eye.

Barnes finished with 17 points and 11 assists but admitted after the game: “Couldn’t play with that same pace that I was trying to play with, just having a little limp out there. I was just trying to push through it, trying to win the game.”

Brandon Ingram also exited early with ongoing heel inflammation, according to head coach Darko Rajakovic.

RJ Barrett led Toronto with 25 points and 12 rebounds, saying: “Especially now. Now it’s do or die. Now we’ve gotta go out there and we’ve got to fight, we’ve got to play hard together.”

Young guards Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead stepped up with 20 and 18 points respectively, but Cleveland’s offence proved too strong.

Toronto will now try to force a deciding Game 7 with a home win on Friday.