Playoffs: Cleveland dominates Game 1 against Toronto
The Cleveland Cavaliers perfectly launched their 2026 playoff campaign by dominating the Toronto Raptors 126-113 in Game 1 of this first-round series in the Eastern Conference. In front of their home crowd at Rocket Arena, the Cavaliers took control in the third quarter to claim a valuable lead in the series.
Donovan Mitchell once again proved he is an exceptional playoff performer. The All-Star guard scored 32 points on 11/20 shooting, setting an NBA record with his ninth consecutive playoff series opener with 30 or more points. Mitchell dominated at every level, easily penetrating the paint and punishing Toronto from three-point range (4/7).
James Harden orchestrates, Max Strus ignites
Alongside Mitchell, James Harden delivered a flawless performance in his first playoffs wearing a Cavaliers jersey. The former Clipper tallied 22 points and 10 assists, dictating the pace and orchestrating Cleveland’s offense with his legendary court vision. The Mitchell-Harden duo combined for 54 points and 14 assists, directly contributing to 82 of their team’s 126 points.
The revelation of the game was Max Strus. The forward, who had missed the first 67 games of the regular season due to a left foot injury, exploded for 24 points off the bench on 8/10 shooting including 4/6 from three. His timely scoring runs allowed the Cavaliers to pull away for good.
The turning point came between the end of the second quarter and the start of the third. Trailing by just two points, the Cavaliers went on a devastating 27-9 run to build a 22-point lead. Strus scored 11 points during that decisive stretch, aided by Evan Mobley (17 points, 7 rebounds) who threw down a posterizing dunk on Collin Murray-Boyles.
On the Raptors’ side, playing their first playoff game since 2022, RJ Barrett (24 points) and Scottie Barnes (21 points, 7 assists) tried to keep their team afloat. But the absence of Immanuel Quickley, sidelined with a hamstring injury, was sorely felt. Jamal Shead replaced him in the starting lineup and scored 17 points with 5 three-pointers, but Toronto managed only 3 fast-break points, their primary offensive weapon neutralized.
Game 2 takes place Monday night in Cleveland, where the Raptors must respond to avoid heading back to Toronto down 2-0. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, can already savor a perfect start that confirms their high ambitions for the 2026 playoffs.
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