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Report: Serge Ibaka in walking boot, status for Game 6 unknown

The Raptors’ best bench player against the Celtics so far injured his ankle late in Game 5 against Boston.

Boston Celtics v Toronto Raptors - Game Five Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

During the Toronto Raptors’ Tuesday morning press briefings, Serge Ibaka admitted he twisted his ankle late in Game 5 against Boston Celtics and said he was unsure at this point whether or not he’d be able to play in Wednesday’s Game 6.

Reporters in Orlando shared photos showing Ibaka in a walking boot:

Ibaka injured the ankle, his left, on the opening play of the fourth quarter; he jumped to block a Brad Wanamaker floater, and came down on Wanamaker’s foot.

Serge Ibaka Game 5 ankle injury NBA.com

If there’s any room for optimism, it comes from our guy Woz:

Ibaka is obviously an important part of the Raptors’ plans; he’s been one of the seven players Nick Nurse has been willing to trust in this series. He’s been a bit of a mess on defense at times, but he’s still the team’s only reliable bench scorer, averaging 12 points on 51% shooting in the second round so far. Given that Marc Gasol hasn’t been scoring at all, and that Norman Powell, the only other bench player Nurse trusts, is also in a slump, the Raptors need Ibaka’s offense to keep them afloat while their starters get the small amount of rest they can.

The Raptors haven’t yet submitted an official injury report; we’ll update you with further news as soon as we have it!

Update: The Raptors have officially announced that Ibaka is “questionable” for Game 6.