Much of the criticism brewing in Raptors Nation has centered around Brandon Ingram's relatively underwhelming production in this Cavs series. While that is entirely justified, it’s important to remember that winning doesn’t rely solely on the efforts of one player. Everyone getting crucial minutes and thrust into a prominent role must deliver and work cohesively to secure victories.
Thankfully for Toronto, they’ve quickly revitalized the series’ trajectory, bringing the score to 2-2 with Game 5 looming nearby.
Heading into this important matchup, I don’t think it’s crazy to say there’s a bit of a chip on the shoulder of one player: Sandro Mamukelashvili.
Raptors need Mamu to ignite in this series
After getting 20 minutes of action in Game 1 and putting in a solid outing in Game 2, Mamu’s role has shrunk in Games 3 and 4, where he was limited to just 11 and 13 minutes respectively. While he is currently Toronto’s leading rebounder in the postseason at 7.0 rebounds per game, he hasn’t quite made a scoring impact, posting only 4.3 points in the series, which is dead last on the team.
We all know how Sandro Mamukelashvili made his name in the regular season — by coming in for Toronto and providing a spark off the bench. He quickly established himself as one of the league’s most underrated sixth men (actually finishing top 10 in Sixth Man of the Year voting), averaging 11.2 points on 52.3 percent shooting, 38.9 percent from three, along with 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
But so far in the playoffs, there's been a bit of a drop in Mamu's impact for Toronto. Overall, this series is proving to be a challenge for many of the Raptors' talents. The Brandon Ingram discussions have been loud and clear, Ja'Kobe Walter has been having a rough stretch lately, and Mamu is just another player struggling to replicate his regular season production in the playoffs. The reduced role, matchup considerations, and fewer minutes have definitely contributed to his quieter production, but then again, he hasn't been completely taken off the floor.
If Mamu can find a good rhythm and become a much-needed shooter for Toronto, it could open up opportunities, even with the blossoming Collin Murray-Boyles taking much of the spotlight for Raptors bigs. Mamukelashvili was getting ample minutes before the modest showings in Game 3 and 4 anyhow, and with how unpredictable this series has become, the window for any player to make a difference can open wide in an instant. Just look at Jamison Battle a few games ago.
All it takes is one big performance to turn the tide, and the Raptors could really use Mamu to get back to the level he showed for much of the 2025-26 regular season.
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