Raptors’ Darko Rajaković defends Brandon Ingram after rough Game 2 showing

Following the Toronto Raptors’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of their first-round matchup, Brandon Ingram became the center of attention when he pointed out his lack of touches late in their 126-113 defeat. In Game 2, the Raptors definitely made a more concerted effort to find him, only for that gameplan of theirs to fail miserably. Ingram finished with just seven points on the night on 3-15 shooting from the field in a 115-105 loss.

The Raptors are now down 2-0, and while that is far from a death sentence, Game 3 has now become a must-win. Ingram cannot play as poorly in that game as he did on Monday, that’s for certain. Head coach Darko Rajakovic, for what it’s worth, has strong belief that his star forward can figure it out with the team’s backs against the wall.

“Brandon is a very important player for us. The ball did not go in tonight. We need him to continue being aggressive and shooting. I got absolute support for him. He’s going to make his shots,” Rajakovic said in his postgame presser, via Omer Osman of Raptors Updates.

Darko on Brandon Ingram’s performance tonight in Game 2:

“Brandon is a very important player for us. The ball did not go in tonight.”

“We need him to continue being aggressive and shooting. I got absolute support for him. He’s going to make his shots.” https://t.co/gSS1ZpdKCN pic.twitter.com/VCVYzbl33X

— Omer Osman (@OmerOsman200) April 21, 2026

The Raptors definitely need Ingram to turn it around; Game 2 was a very winnable game, and Ingram did not perform at a level the team needed him to as one of their best players.

Toronto’s offense found unexpected contributions from their bench (Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Sandro Mamukelashvili combined for 43 points), so Ingram showing up would have given the Raptors a chance to steal a game on the road.

Nonetheless, there is no use in crying over spilled milk. Ingram knows what the team needs out of him, especially with Immanuel Quickley nursing an injury. And with the Raptors wanting to do everything in their power to avoid falling down 3-0, expect Ingram to snap out of it and perform better in Game 3.

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