Raptors star Brandon Ingram got injection in injured ankle
The organization is optimistic there will be no issues moving forward and that he will be a key piece that will help improve the offence.
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It’s not a surprise that Brandon Ingram’s season is over, but it was not expected that the star Toronto Raptors forward would need a PRP injection in his left ankle. Yet, that was judged to be the best course of action and was administered on Tuesday, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said on Wednesday before his team hosted the Charlotte Hornets in Toronto’s final home game of the year.
Ingram has been sidelined since badly spraining the ankle while landing on an opponent’s foot back on December 7 when he was still a member of the New Orleans Hornets. Toronto traded for Ingram on Feb. 6, but while he’s been improving, he was not able to suit up for his new team.
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Raptors star Brandon Ingram got injection in injured ankle Back to video
“While we were in New York, we had a chance to go and see a foot specialist with the team,” Rajakovic explained. “And he was able to give us the great news that our diagnosis and all the program and everything we’ve been putting in, it’s the right things. It’s what he needs. He’s been recovering really well. He did recommend for us to consider PRP injection,” Rajakovic said.
“The reasoning behind it is it’s going to speed up his recovery. And now with five, six days over here to the rest of the season, it’s going to give him a time to really rehab and rest well and to be ready for our summer program.”
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A platelet-rich plasma injection is a treatment that uses the patient’s own blood to speed up healing for tissue repair and regeneration.
The Raptors organization is optimistic there will be no issues moving forward and that Ingram will be a key piece that will help significantly improve the team’s middling offence moving forward.
Rajakovic said that while he does not “have a crystal ball in front of me” in terms of predicting further injuries to Ingram’s ankles, “we’re doing everything in our power to prevent that. Obviously he had a bad injury. We’re aware of that. We are doing everything in our power to get him back on the court and for his recovery. He’s doing amazing job. He’s very compliant. He is putting a lot of work in. I strongly believe that it’s going to be behind us,” he said.
Toronto was also without Jakob Poeltl, Ochai Agbaji, Jamal Shead, Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter on Wednesday.
Raptors 126, Hornets 96
On Wednesday, the Raptors made short work of a Hornets side missing each of its best players (LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams, amongst others). The Raptors won 126-96, with Jonathan Mogbo delivering an out of nowhere triple-double, with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, becoming the first rookie Raptor to notch one since Damon Stoudamire in Year 1. Mogbo is also the only rookie this season to do it. Scottie Barnes added 17, while Jared Rhoden scored 23 off the bench. Nick Smith Jr. led Charlotte with 28 points.
Toronto led 25-23 after the first quarter, but don’t be fooled by the closeness of those first 12 minutes. The rest of the game wasn’t like that.
Toronto led 53-25 with Barnes, Quickley and Barrett having their way against the overmatched Hornets players, none of which would start on an even average NBA team.
The trio had not suited up in the same game since March 14 and it was only the 16th time all season it had happened.
The Raptors led by as many as 27 points and by 20 after three quarters despite Barnes only playing 20 minutes, Barrett and Quickley only 14 each.
Charlotte was playing night after being crushed at home against Memphis, while Toronto had been off since a win in Brooklyn Sunday.
Another rookie Shead addressed the crowd pre-game on fan appreciation night and thanked them for their unwavering support through an up-and-down season. It was a good day for Shead all around, as he additionally got to enjoy seeing Ingram wearing his own jersey from his time with the Houston Cougars. That was a result of a friendly bet they made ahead of the Final Four game between Ingram’s Duke Blue Devils, and Shead’s Houston side, the eventual winners.
The Raptors franchise honoured its mascot for 30 years of exemplary service, as well as in-house arena voice Herbie Kuhn for the same and Superfan Nav Bhatia for his years of support. Later, a lucky fan nailed a half court shot to win season tickets for next season. It was the best shot of the night.
Despite the team’s poor record overall, the Raptors did treat the home fans to some solid home contests this season. There was a thrilling two-point loss to Denver early, a three-point overtime win over Sacramento days later, a shocker over defending champion Boston, and one against the Clippers. The most memorable was probably the Sacramento game, which also featured Vince Carter’s jersey retirement ceremony at halftime.
@WolstatSun
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