What a stellar Game 5 showing from Raptors sophomore Ja'Kobe Walter, in spite of Toronto falling 125-120 in an unfortunate defeat.
After going ice cold in the last two playoff games, Game 5 was bound to be a big opportunity for Walter to break out of his slump and show that three-point spark alongside his disruptive defensive effort. In a game where Toronto suddenly lost Brandon Ingram's services, Walter was arguably the most important "next man up" in the Raptors' pecking order, providing an essential boost as Jamal Shead and Sandro Mamukelashvili also put in commendable efforts.
And it was quite the boost indeed, a stark contrast to his 0-for-15 stretch in Games 3 and 4.
Ja'Kobe Walter looked incredible in Game 5 vs. Cavs, despite the loss
Despite running into foul trouble, Walter was the third-highest player on the Raptors' roster in minutes played, getting a series-high 34:51 of run. It wouldn't take long before the 21-year-old swingman tried to get his shot going early, and the volume just kept increasing from there. Walter shot 7-for-16 in the contest, including 6-for-14 from three, for a series-best 20 points on the board. He also secured four crucial steals in the Game 5 affair.
RJ Barrett led the Raptors' offense with 19 field goal attempts, while Scottie Barnes and Ja'Kobe Walter both tied for second on the team with 16 attempts each in Game 5. That reveals a lot about the faith and belief Walter’s coaching staff and teammates had in him going into this game. After all, it was cornerstone Scottie Barnes who said that "it’s all going to come to show," for Walter in the lead-up to Game 5 and it sure did.
The Brandon Ingram injury couldn’t have come at a worse time to halt the Raptors’ momentum, despite his relatively quiet showing in the series thus far. Just like in Game 5, the pressure now largely falls on someone like Ja’Kobe Walter to step up.
As we’ve seen with another young standout, Collin Murray-Boyles, in this series, the defensive and shooting aggression that Walter brings is desperately needed for the Raptors right now. Toronto’s strength is forcing turnovers, playing in transition, and attacking the paint for scoring opportunities. Walter’s defensive presence helps with that, but his ability to be a reliable floor spacer opens things up for others or becomes a key target when the paint gets clogged.
There is also the worry about Scottie Barnes's ability to play at 100 percent moving forward (after tweaking his quad) that emerged after Game 5. This should only add more pressure on Walter's shoulders. He has definitely shown a relentless mindset in the series so far, despite dealing with his shooting struggles.
This final stretch will test Walter's ability to go against the grain and remain a key postseason piece because Toronto's chances of winning could ultimately depend on it.
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