RJ Barrett's 29-foot triple forces Game 7 as Raptors stun Cavaliers in overtime

Key facts

• RJ Barrett hit a 29-foot three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime to win 112-110.
• The shot tied the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at 3-3, forcing a Game 7.
• Evan Mobley's three-point attempt at the buzzer missed, sealing Cleveland's loss.
• Darko Rajakovic, 47, from Cacak, Serbia, is Toronto's head coach.
• Game 7 will be played Sunday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
• Barrett is a Toronto native playing for his hometown team.

A shot for the ages

RJ Barrett buried a dramatic, high-bouncing 29-foot three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime on Friday night, lifting the Toronto Raptors to a 112-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The improbable shot pushed the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series to a decisive Game 7. Cleveland had one final chance, but Evan Mobley's three-point attempt bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.

Rajakovic's premonition

Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic revealed after the game that he had foreseen the moment. “Call me crazy, call my physic, but I saw this one coming tonight,” he said during his postgame press conference. Rajakovic, 47, from Cacak, had planned specifically to put the ball in Barrett's hands for end-of-game situations, discussing it with his assistant coaches before the game. “It’s surreal that he made that shot. The way that shot went down. It’s really awesome,” he added.

Eternity in half a second

For Rajakovic, the final moments of Barrett's shot felt suspended in time. “I know it was half of a second, but it looked like eternity to be honest,” he said, reflecting on the go-ahead bucket that saved the Raptors' season. Barrett, a Toronto native playing for his hometown team, etched his name into Raptors lore with the clutch triple.

Series tied, Game 7 looms

The series is now tied 3-3, with the Cavaliers having won Games 1, 2, and 5, while the Raptors took Games 3, 4, and 6. Game 7 will be played Sunday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The winner will advance to face the winner of the Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic series, which is also tied 3-3.

Playoff landscape

In other Eastern Conference first-round action, the New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 4-2, and the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are tied 3-3. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0, the Los Angeles Lakers lead the Houston Rockets 3-2, the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Denver Nuggets 4-2, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1.

What's at stake

Game 7 represents a winner-take-all showdown for both teams. The Raptors, having staved off elimination, carry momentum from Barrett's heroics. The Cavaliers, returning home, will look to regroup and capitalize on home-court advantage. The outcome will determine who moves on to the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

The bottom line

• RJ Barrett's 29-foot three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime forced Game 7.
• Darko Rajakovic had a premonition and planned for Barrett to take the final shot.
• Game 7 will be played Sunday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
• The series is tied 3-3; the winner faces the Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic winner.
• Barrett is a Toronto native who delivered a historic moment for his hometown team.