Raptors' Brandon Ingram vows to be more aggressive in Game 2 vs. Cavs

Ingram struggled in Game 1 but plans to adjust his approach to get more involved in the offense.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:06pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball player driving to the hoop, the figure broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form.A cubist interpretation of a Raptors player attacking the rim, reflecting the strategic adjustments needed to unlock Brandon Ingram's scoring potential.Cleveland Today

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram had a quiet Game 1 performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring just 17 points and grabbing only 2 rebounds. Ingram acknowledged that he won't get many open shots in the playoffs and vowed to be more aggressive, working more off ball screens, cutting, and keeping the defense off balance. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said the team had long film sessions and meetings to come up with solutions to get Ingram more involved in the offense for Game 2.

Why it matters

Brandon Ingram emerged as a go-to scorer for the Raptors this season, so his production will be crucial if they want to even the series against the Cavaliers. The Raptors will need to find ways to free up Ingram and get him more involved after he struggled against Cleveland's stifling defense in Game 1.

The details

In Game 1, the Cavaliers were able to limit Ingram's scoring opportunities by packing the paint and preventing him from getting to the rim. Ingram said he plans to mix up his approach, working more off ball screens, cutting, and keeping the defense off balance. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said the team had extensive film sessions and meetings to come up with a plan to get Ingram more involved in the offense for Game 2.

  • The Raptors and Cavaliers played Game 1 on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Game 2 is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET.

The players

Brandon Ingram

A forward for the Toronto Raptors who emerged as a go-to scorer for the team this season.

Darko Rajakovic

The head coach of the Toronto Raptors, who is in his first season as an NBA head coach.

RJ Barrett

A guard for the Toronto Raptors who led the team in scoring with 24 points in Game 1 against the Cavaliers.

Evan Mobley

A forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers who had a highlight-reel dunk in Game 1.

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What they’re saying

“I won't get many open shots in the playoffs. We had a long day yesterday watching film, long meetings this morning, great conversations today.”

— Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors Forward

“So, we're going to have some solutions and try to adjust. But, definitely, we've gotta involve Brandon much more in our offense and we have a plan to do so.”

— Darko Rajakovic, Toronto Raptors Head Coach

What’s next

The Raptors and Cavaliers will play Game 2 of their playoff series on Monday, April 21, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

The Raptors will need to find ways to get Brandon Ingram more involved in the offense after he struggled in Game 1 against the Cavaliers' stifling defense. Ingram and the team have identified adjustments to make, including having Ingram work more off ball screens and cuts to keep the defense off balance. If the Raptors can successfully implement these changes, it could help even the series in Game 2.