RJ Barrett's Buzzer-Beater Forces Game 7 as Raptors Stun Cavaliers

Key facts

• RJ Barrett hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in Game 6.
• The shot bounced nearly seven feet off the rim before falling through.
• Toronto trailed 110-109 with 10.9 seconds remaining before Barrett's shot.
• The Raptors had squandered an 11-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
• Cleveland's Evan Mobley missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.
• Game 7 will be played in Cleveland, where the home team has won every game in the series.
• The basket is the same one where Kawhi Leonard's four-bounce shot eliminated the 76ers in 2019.

A Shot for the Ages

RJ Barrett launched a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1.2 seconds left on the clock. The ball hit the rim, bounced nearly seven feet straight up, and then dropped through the net to give the Toronto Raptors a 112-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at Scotiabank Arena. The win forced a Game 7 in the first-round playoff series, which the Cavaliers had led 3-2. Barrett's shot came after the Raptors had squandered an 11-point lead going into the fourth quarter and trailed by one point with 10.9 seconds remaining.

The Sequence That Set Up the Winner

The Cavaliers had a chance to ice the game with 18 seconds left, inbounded the ball to Dennis Schröder. Schröder struggled to advance the ball but eventually crossed halfcourt before throwing an ill-advised pass to Evan Mobley along the sideline. Mobley had the ball knocked off him and out of bounds with 10 seconds to play, giving Toronto possession. Barrett inbounded to Scottie Barnes, who dribbled to the free-throw line and kicked the ball back to Barrett at the top of the key. Barrett's shot then produced the improbable bounce that saved the Raptors' season.

The Bounce That Echoes History

The basket on the home side of Scotiabank Arena has a history of magical bounces. In 2019, Kawhi Leonard's four-bounce shot stunned the Philadelphia 76ers on the same rim. Barrett's shot was eerily similar to the one Tyrese Haliburton got in Game 1 of last year's Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks to force overtime. Haliburton took notice of the parallel. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said the shot felt like it was in the air for an eternity. "It was only half a second, but it felt like an eternity," Rajakovic said. "I was happy for him, for this team, for this city, that the shot went down." Barrett himself believed the shot had a chance because the ball went straight up off the rim.

Cleveland's Missed Opportunity

After Barrett's go-ahead basket, the Cavaliers had one last chance. Evan Mobley launched a 3-pointer that bounced off the front of the rim as time expired, sealing Toronto's win. The Cavs had led the series 3-2 and were looking to close out the Raptors on their home floor. Cleveland now faces the challenge of overcoming the emotional toll of watching a chance to advance slip away on that improbable shot. The Cavaliers also must contend with their recent history of playoff disappointment, adding pressure as the series shifts back to Cleveland.

What's at Stake in Game 7

Game 7 will be played in Cleveland, where the home team has won every game in this series. The Cavaliers will need to shake off the pain of the Game 6 loss and refocus to avoid another early playoff exit. The Raptors, buoyed by the dramatic victory, will hope that this stroke of luck can be a springboard to a stunning run through the Eastern Conference. The series now becomes a one-game showdown, with the winner advancing to face the winner of the other first-round matchup. For Toronto, Barrett's shot has extended their season and given them a chance to complete the comeback.

The bottom line

• RJ Barrett's 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left forced Game 7 after an improbable bounce off the rim.
• The Raptors overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to stave off elimination.
• Cleveland's turnover with 10 seconds left set up Toronto's game-winning possession.
• Game 7 will be in Cleveland, where the home team has won every game in the series.
• The same basket produced a similar iconic bounce for Kawhi Leonard in 2019.
• The Cavaliers must overcome both the emotional letdown and their history of playoff disappointment.