Barnes and Barrett Lead Raptors to Dominant 126-104 Victory Over Cavaliers
Apr 23, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Scottie Barnes (4) and forward RJ Barrett (9) during the second half of game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Raptors delivered their most complete playoff performance in years, dismantling the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-104 on Thursday night. The victory marked a historic breakthrough for a franchise that had been haunted by Cleveland in postseason play, ending a streak that dated back to the 2016 Eastern Conference finals.
Scottie Barnes was magnificent, recording career playoff highs with 33 points and 11 assists while adding five rebounds. The young star shot efficiently at 11 for 17 from the field, connecting on 3 of 5 from 3-point range and 8 for 10 at the free-throw line. Despite picking up three fouls in the first half, Barnes stayed disciplined and avoided further foul trouble.
« We knew we needed everybody for this win and you’ve seen some big performances from everybody, » Barnes said. « It just goes to show how resilient, how bad we wanted it. We went out there and tried to do whatever it took. »
Fourth Quarter Explosion Seals Victory
RJ Barrett matched Barnes’ output with his own career playoff-high 33 points, shooting a blistering 6 for 8 from 3-point range. The duo received crucial support from rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, who contributed 22 points and became the first Raptors rookie to score 20 or more in a playoff game.
« He’s not afraid of the moment, » Barrett said of Murray-Boyles.
Toronto’s fourth quarter surge proved decisive. Leading 83-81 after three quarters, the Raptors exploded for 43 points in the final period while limiting Cleveland to just 23. The key was their exceptional 3-point shooting, as Toronto connected on 8 of 9 attempts from beyond the arc. Jamison Battle provided the knockout punch, scoring all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter while going 4 for 4 from long range.
« He did everything for us tonight, » Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said of Barnes’ performance.
Cleveland’s offensive stars struggled against Toronto’s aggressive defense. James Harden managed 18 points but shot just 5 for 13 overall and 3 for 10 from 3-point range. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Max Strus each contributed 15 points, but their efficiency suffered. Mitchell shot 7 for 16 and went 1 for 7 from distance, while Mobley managed just 4 for 13 shooting and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.
« They did a heck of a job, » Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said of Toronto’s defense on Harden. « They made him work. »
The Raptors capitalized on Cleveland’s mistakes, scoring 23 points off 22 turnovers. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Toronto, where the Raptors will look to even the series and continue their playoff resurgence.
Comments (0)