All articles tagged with #raptors
Jarrett Allen poured in 22 points and pulled down 19 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers to a 114-102 Game 7 victory over the Raptors, out-rebounding Toronto 60-33 and advancing to the East semifinals; Cleveland got solid support from the rotation while Scottie Barnes continued to show growth for Toronto.
Game 7 in Cleveland pits the Cavaliers’ stars James Harden and Donovan Mitchell against the Raptors, who forced a deciding matchup with RJ Barrett’s OT winner. The series has been razor-thin, with Toronto’s aggressive defense fueling its transition game and keeping Harden and Mitchell unsettled. Cleveland hopes to close it on home soil after a tightly contested series, while Toronto tries to buck a historical trend (0-10 in playoff games in Cleveland) with big performances from Barrett and Scottie Barnes and sustained hustle.
The Cavaliers blew a golden opportunity in Game 6, failing to start with the necessary focus as Toronto pulled away, then saw Donovan Mitchell struggle to impose his will for three quarters before a late surge. Evan Mobley delivered a standout late showing, and James Harden contributed with playmaking and rebounds, but poor early defense and questionable coaching decisions by Kenny Atkinson—including late-game setups and inbound choices—left Cleveland vulnerable to a 112-110 loss that forces a deciding Game 7.
Cleveland erased a 12-point deficit in the third quarter and rode a late surge from Dennis Schroder to beat Toronto 125-120, grabbing a 3-2 series edge. The Cavs attacked the paint in the second half (14-for-25) while limiting the Raptors to 9-for-26 in the final two quarters, with Schroder scoring 17 points in the fourth as Donovan Mitchell cooled. Evan Mobley added 23 points, including timely threes that sparked the comeback. Toronto was shorthanded after Brandon Ingram left with a heel injury, and Barnes/Barrett cooled after a strong first half. A Strus-for-Wade lineup change didn’t pan out, but coach Atkinson called the win progress toward getting to the next level, even as Cleveland seeks more consistent playoff scoring.
Cleveland hosts Toronto with the series tied and three key questions in play: can Toronto’s defense slow Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, will Cavaliers’ 3-point shooting rebalance the series, and will rookies Jamal Shead and Collin Murray-Boyles continue to impact the rotation in Game 5.
Cleveland let a potential 3-1 series lead slip away as Toronto escaped with a 93-89 victory in a game defined by brutal shooting (Raptors 32% FG, 4-30 from three) and a heavy emphasis on second chances (21 offensive rebounds) that fueled 19-7 in second-chance points. Cleveland’s turnover woes (18 to Toronto’s 12) and a poor shooting night from Donovan Mitchell (20 points on 6-24) — including 0-4 at the rim — hamstrung the Cavs’ offense, while Toronto’s relentless grabbing of misses and the Cavs’ inability to get to the rim capped a frustrating night for Cleveland.
Sunday's playoff slate delivered four winners—Houston silenced the Lakers 115-96 to extend Los Angeles’ series lead, San Antonio blasted Portland 114-93 behind a dominant second half led by De'Aaron Fox, Boston crushed Philadelphia 128-96 with Payton Pritchard erupting for 32 off the bench, and Toronto edged Cleveland 93-89 as Collin Murray-Boyles anchored late defense and logged a double-double. LeBron James had a rare rough night with 10 points as the Cavs’ backcourt sputtered, Scoot Henderson went scoreless for Portland, and rebounding/ball-control issues lingered for Philadelphia as the favorites in several series tighten up heading into the next games.
Toronto rallied to a 93-89 win in Game 4 to even the series at 2-2, led by Scottie Barnes’ all-around (23 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles’s 15 points, 10 rebounds. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and James Harden struggled, late turnovers and sharp Raptors defense sealed the victory, setting up a pivotal Game 5 in Cleveland.
Cleveland leaned into physical defense to disrupt Toronto, with Dean Wade denying Ingram and staying glued to him as Mitchell (30 points) and Harden (part of a 58-point backcourt burst with Mobley) carried the offense. Mobley punished switches for 25 on 11-13 shooting, and the Cavs exploited Toronto’s small-ball alignment to drive the lane. The bench offered little support, highlighting a growing reliance on the top four and improving chemistry between Mitchell and Harden as Cleveland takes a 2-0 series lead.
CJ McCollum's late burst carried the Hawks to a Game 2 win at Madison Square Garden, Rudy Gobert harassed Nikola Jokic to help Minnesota level the series, and Cleveland's trio of Mitchell, Harden and Mobley combined for 83 points to seize a 2-0 lead on Toronto; meanwhile New York's usually clutch fourth quarter collapsed, and Brandon Ingram struggled for the Raptors.
The Cavaliers moved to a 2-0 series lead over the Raptors in a playoff showcase led by Donovan Mitchell’s 30 points and Evan Mobley’s 25, with James Harden adding 28 and anchoring Cleveland’s attack. Mitchell attacked multiple defenders, Harden’s shot-making and pick-and-roll savvy kept the Raptors on their heels, and Mobley dominated the paint with confident finishing. Jarrett Allen provided rim protection though modest rebounding, while Dean Wade offered solid wing defense and other role players contributed; the piece centers on a detailed player-grades breakdown that highlights Cleveland’s depth and top-line performance.
SportsLine's projection model predicts the Cavaliers to cover the 8.5-point spread against the Raptors and the game to go over 220.5 in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA playoffs, with tipoff at 1 p.m. ET in Cleveland. Toronto’s Immanuel Quickley is listed as doubtful, and the model envisions a high-scoring clash with Donovan Mitchell leading the Cavaliers and multiple players in double figures for both teams.
Toronto rode a 31-0 run—the largest in NBA play-by-play history—to a 139-87 rout of Orlando, highlighting the Raptors' aggressive defense and the Magic's slide toward play-in contention. Scottie Barnes reached the season milestone of 100 blocks and 100 steals, the first Raptors player to do so since 2018-19, while Orlando's struggles underscored the lopsided nature of the game.
The Knicks defeated the Raptors 111-95, shooting 56% to 45%, with 32 assists on 46 baskets and a 44-28 rebounding edge. All five Knicks starters scored in double figures for a third straight game, and New York secured its 12th straight win over Toronto. RJ Barrett had 20 points and Jalen Brunson added 26 with 10 assists.
New York overcame a rocky start in Toronto to crush the Raptors 119-92, riding a dominant third-quarter burst (64-26) led by Mikal Bridges’ 30 points on 12-for-15 shooting. The Knicks outshot and outperformed Toronto in the paint and ball movement, aided by a 22-point, 22-rebound showing from Karl-Anthony Towns and a strong 22-point effort from Josh Hart despite an ankle issue. OG Anunoby countered with 26 points for Toronto, while Tyler Kolek added 10 assists off the bench. The win extends New York’s current four-game streak, gives them a 3-0 season-series edge, and sets up a meeting with Portland next.