Cavaliers Dominate Third Quarter to Dispatch Raptors 114-102 in Game 7

Key facts

• Cavaliers defeated Raptors 114-102 in Game 7 on May 3 at Rocket Arena.
• Jarrett Allen scored 22 points on 11 shots and grabbed 19 rebounds.
• Donovan Mitchell also scored 22 points for Cleveland.
• Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 24 points; RJ Barrett added 23.
• Cleveland outrebounded Toronto 60-33.
• The home team won every game in the series.
• Cavaliers advance to face the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
• Brandon Ingram missed Games 6 and 7 with right heel inflammation.

A Decisive Third Quarter Breaks Open a Tight Series

After six games of back-and-forth combat, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally seized control in Game 7, riding a dominant third quarter to a 114-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at Rocket Arena. The win clinched the first-round series for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who will now face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals beginning Tuesday, May 5. The first half offered no hint of the blowout to come. The teams traded leads eight times in the first quarter alone, ending the period tied at 32-32. Toronto seized a 61-51 halftime advantage behind a barrage of three-pointers, shooting 50 percent from deep in the half while Cleveland committed 10 turnovers.

Cleveland’s Bench and Rebounding Dominate After Halftime

The Cavaliers transformed the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Raptors by a wide margin to build a lead that swelled to as many as 22 points. Center Jarrett Allen anchored the turnaround, finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds — including eight offensive boards — while adding two steals and three blocks. Allen had averaged fewer than 10 points per game in the first six contests of the series. Cleveland’s bench provided a critical lift, contributing 34 points led by Max Strus and Sam Merrill. Toronto’s reserves managed only 19 points. The Cavaliers also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Raptors 60-33, a disparity that proved insurmountable for the visitors.

Toronto’s Offensive Struggles and the Absence of Brandon Ingram

The Raptors’ offense sputtered in the second half, making just 3 of 15 three-point attempts after the break. Scottie Barnes led all scorers with 24 points, and RJ Barrett added 23, but Barrett needed 25 shots to reach that total. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles had a strong series, but the team lacked the firepower to keep pace. Brandon Ingram missed the final two games of the series with right heel inflammation after sitting out the second half of Game 5. Ingram averaged 21.5 points per game during the regular season but managed only 12 points on 32.8 percent shooting in the four games he played. His absence left a 10-point-per-game hole that Toronto could not fill.

Game 6 Heroics Set Stage for Decisive Matchup

The Raptors forced Game 7 with a dramatic 112-110 overtime victory on Friday, fueled by RJ Barrett’s fortuitous three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining. Barrett’s shot bounced off the heel of the rim and dropped through the net, evoking memories of Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 Game 7 buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers. The win ensured that the home team had won every game in the series, a pattern that held in Game 7. Controversy surrounded the final sequence of Game 6: Collin Murray-Boyles knocked the ball away from Evan Mobley, and officials ruled Mobley last touched it before it went out of bounds. Cleveland had no challenges remaining after head coach Kenny Atkinson used his second challenge in the second quarter on an offensive foul call against Jaylon Tyson, which was upheld.

Key Performances and Turning Points in Game 7

Donovan Mitchell, who had only seven points at halftime, finished with 22 points, heating up in the fourth quarter. Evan Mobley scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while James Harden added 18 points and six rebounds. Harden drew a foul on a three-point attempt with 3:15 left, making all three free throws to extend Cleveland’s lead to 106-91. The Cavaliers shot just 11 of 39 from three-point range, but their rebounding and bench production compensated for the cold shooting. Toronto’s defense could not ignore Ingram even when he was cold, but without him, the Raptors lacked a reliable scoring option to counter Cleveland’s interior dominance.

What Lies Ahead for Both Teams

The Cavaliers now prepare for a second-round matchup against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, with Game 1 scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in Detroit. Cleveland will need to maintain its rebounding intensity and hope for continued production from its bench to challenge the Pistons. For the Raptors, the offseason brings questions about Brandon Ingram’s future. He is under contract for two more seasons at $40 million per year, and his injury-plagued series raises concerns about his fit with the young core. Toronto can take solace in a season that saw significant growth under head coach Darko Rajaković, but the sting of a Game 7 loss will linger.

The bottom line

• Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen delivered a career-best playoff performance with 22 points and 19 rebounds in Game 7.
• The Cavaliers outrebounded Toronto 60-33, a decisive factor in the series finale.
• Brandon Ingram’s absence due to injury left the Raptors without their leading scorer for the final two games.
• Toronto’s bench was outscored 34-19, highlighting a lack of depth in a critical game.
• The home team won every game in the series, a trend that favored Cleveland in Game 7.
• Cleveland advances to face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals.