Cavaliers Outlast Raptors 115-105 in Game 7, Advance to Face Pistons

Key facts

• Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Toronto Raptors 115-105 in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.
• Jarrett Allen recorded 22 points and 19 rebounds on 11 shots, tying Donovan Mitchell for team-high scoring.
• The Cavaliers shot 11-of-39 (28.2%) from three-point range in Game 7.
• Toronto's RJ Barrett scored 23 points on 25 shots, while Scottie Barnes led all scorers with 24 points.
• Brandon Ingram missed the final two games of the series due to right heel inflammation, averaging 12 points on 32.8% shooting in the series.
• The home team won each of the first six games of the series before Cleveland broke the pattern in Game 7.
• Cleveland's bench outscored Toronto's reserves 34-19 in Game 7.
• The Cavaliers will face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the second round.

A Series of Home Dominance Ends in Cleveland

For six games, the first-round playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors followed a rigid pattern: the home team won every contest. That streak finally broke on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where the Cavaliers secured a 115-105 victory in Game 7, clinching the series and a date with the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the second round. The win did not come easily. After a first half that ended in a 49-49 tie, Cleveland seized control in the third quarter, outscoring Toronto by a margin that swelled to 22 points. The Raptors mounted a fourth-quarter rally, but the deficit proved insurmountable as the Cavaliers' depth and interior defense held firm.

Jarrett Allen Anchors Cleveland's Second-Half Surge

Center Jarrett Allen, who had averaged fewer than 10 points per game through the first six contests of the series, delivered a career-defining performance when it mattered most. He finished with 22 points and 19 rebounds—including eight offensive boards—on an efficient 11-shot night, adding two steals and three blocks. His presence was particularly vital given Cleveland's struggles from beyond the arc: the Cavaliers converted just 11 of 39 three-point attempts (28.2%). The backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, acquired at the trade deadline, combined for 12-of-29 shooting from the field and 3-of-14 from deep. Mitchell tied Allen with 22 points, while Harden added 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting. The Cavaliers' bench provided a crucial lift, contributing 34 points led by Max Strus and Sam Merrill, compared to Toronto's 19 bench points.

Toronto's Magic Runs Out After Game 6 Heroics

The Raptors entered Game 7 riding the emotional high of an improbable Game 6 victory, secured by RJ Barrett's fortuitous three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime—a shot that ricocheted off the rim's heel before dropping through the net. That win tied the series 3-3 and extended Toronto's season, but the magic dissipated in Cleveland. Barrett scored 23 points in Game 7 but needed 25 field-goal attempts to do so, while Scottie Barnes led all scorers with 24 points on more efficient shooting. Toronto's three-point shooting, a strength in Game 6 when they hit 9-of-18 in the first half alone, faltered in the second half of Game 7 as the Raptors made only 3-of-15 attempts. The team's offensive struggles were compounded by the absence of Brandon Ingram, who missed the final two games of the series with right heel inflammation. Ingram, who led the Raptors in regular-season scoring at 21.5 points per game, averaged just 12 points on 32.8% shooting over the series.

The Ingram Injury and Its Impact on Toronto's Offense

Brandon Ingram's availability loomed as a pivotal factor throughout the series. Despite his shooting woes—he went 6-for-23 from the field in Toronto's Game 4 win, yet still scored 23 points—his presence commanded defensive attention that created space for teammates. Without him in Games 6 and 7, the Raptors' offense lacked a reliable secondary creator. Barrett, Barnes, and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles each had strong stretches, but the 10-point disparity between Ingram's regular-season output and his playoff production proved too large to overcome. Ingram is under contract for two more seasons at $40 million per year, leaving Toronto with a difficult offseason decision. The Raptors must weigh his potential return to form against the financial commitment and the development of their young core.

Cleveland's Road to the Second Round and Beyond

The Cavaliers now advance to face the Detroit Pistons, the Eastern Conference's top seed, in a second-round matchup that promises a stark contrast in styles. Cleveland's success in Game 7 hinged on its ability to dominate the paint and overcome poor perimeter shooting—a formula that may prove more difficult against Detroit's disciplined defense. For Toronto, the offseason begins with questions about roster construction and health. The Raptors took a significant step forward in year three under head coach Darko Rajaković, pushing a veteran Cavaliers team to the brink. But the sting of a Game 7 loss, especially after the euphoria of Barrett's Game 6 heroics, will linger. The franchise's last Game 7 victory came in 2019, when Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater against the 76ers propelled them to an NBA championship. This time, there was no such bounce.

A Series Defined by Runs and Resilience

The first-round series between the Cavaliers and Raptors was a tale of two halves—not just within games, but across the entire seven-game slate. Cleveland's home-court advantage proved decisive, as they averaged a 43.5% three-point percentage at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse during the series, compared to 27% on the road. Toronto, meanwhile, relied on balanced scoring: in Game 6, four Raptors scored at least 17 points, with Barrett, Barnes, and Ja'Kobe Walter each reaching 24. Yet in Game 7, that balance evaporated. The Raptors' reserves managed just 19 points, and no Toronto player other than Barrett and Barnes reached 20. Cleveland's defense, anchored by Allen and Evan Mobley—who led all scorers with 26 points in Game 6—tightened in the second half, forcing Toronto into difficult shots and turnovers. The Cavaliers' ability to adjust after a first half that saw them commit 10 turnovers and trail by as many as 10 points underscored their resilience.

The bottom line

• Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Toronto Raptors 115-105 in Game 7 to win the first-round playoff series 4-3.
• Jarrett Allen's 22-point, 19-rebound performance was the decisive factor, compensating for Cleveland's poor three-point shooting (28.2%).
• Toronto's Brandon Ingram missed the final two games with heel inflammation, leaving a void the Raptors could not fill.
• The home team won each of the first six games before Cleveland broke the pattern in Game 7.
• Cleveland advances to face the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the second round.
• The Raptors face an offseason with key decisions on Brandon Ingram's $40 million annual salary and the development of their young core.