Raptors' Immanuel Quickley Aggravates Right Hamstring During Rehab, Ruled Out For Rest Of First-round Series Vs. Cavs

The Toronto Raptors clawed back into their first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday with a 126-104 victory at home.

If they’re going to climb out of what was previously a 2-0 hole and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, they’ll have to do so without their starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley.

The team announced Friday that the 26-year-old reinjured his right hamstring during his rehabilitation process and will be out for the remainder of the series against the Cavaliers.

“His condition will be updated as appropriate,” the Raptors said in their release.

Quickley suffered a strained right hamstring in Toronto's regular-season finale and was sidelined for each of the No. 5 seed Raptors’ first three playoff games against the No. 4-seeded Cavaliers, who are now up 2-1 in the series.

This injury is the latest interruption to what’s been a breakout season for Quickley. He started 70 regular-season games — 32 more than his previous single-season high — averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 assists and 4 rebounds a contest. His 5.9 assists per game went down as a personal best, and so did his 1.3 steals per game.

During the regular season, he shot 44.3% from the floor, including 37.4% from 3. He led Darko Rajaković’s team with 178 made 3-pointers.

But before picking up his initial hamstring strain in the final game of the regular season, he missed eight consecutive games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. That stretch took place in late March and early April.

While there’s no way of knowing if his right foot injury influenced his right hamstring injury, Quickley indicated earlier this month that he normally would have missed more time with plantar fasciitis had it not occurred so late in the season, as reported by The Athletic. He returned to the court to help the Raptors avoid the play-in tournament.

The 2020 first-round pick spent three-plus seasons with the New York Knicks before being dealt to Toronto amid the 2023-24 campaign. Quickley and RJ Barrett were part of the trade that sent OG Anunoby to the Knicks.

Quickley has become an everyday starter with the Raptors. In his playoff absence, Toronto has turned to Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter, both of whom have been tasked with containing Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell.

Also, Scottie Barnes has elevated his playmaking. The two-time All-Star has averaged 7.7 assists over those first three postseason outings. He dished 11 dimes Thursday while pouring in 33 points to fuel the bounce-back victory.

The Raptors will host Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.