RJ Barrett’s Bouncing 3 Forces Game 7 as Raptors Edge Cavaliers 112-110 in Overtime

Key facts

• RJ Barrett hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime to give Toronto a 112-110 win.
• The shot bounced off the heel of the rim and dropped through the net, reminiscent of Kawhi Leonard’s 2019 game-winner.
• Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 25 points, 14 assists, and 7 rebounds.
• Evan Mobley scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Cleveland, including the game-tying shot in regulation.
• Donovan Mitchell finished with 24 points after a slow start, hitting a go-ahead layup with 33.7 seconds left in OT.
• The home team has won every game in the series, setting up a Game 7 in Cleveland on Sunday.
• Cleveland was out of challenges after losing its second challenge in the second quarter, preventing a review of a key out-of-bounds call.
• This marks the first time since 2003 that three first-round playoff series have gone to Game 7.

A Bounce That Saved a Season

With 1.2 seconds left in overtime and the Toronto Raptors trailing by one, RJ Barrett launched a 3-pointer from the wing. The ball hit the heel of the rim, shot straight up, and then dropped cleanly through the net. The improbable shot gave Toronto a 112-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, forcing a Game 7 in their first-round playoff series. It was the kind of fortunate bounce Toronto has not seen since Kawhi Leonard’s baseline jumper bounced four times on the rim before falling to eliminate the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019 — a shot that propelled the Raptors to their only NBA championship. For Barrett, a Toronto native, the moment was the biggest of his career.

How the Raptors Built and Lost a Lead

Toronto controlled much of the game after a tight first quarter that ended tied at 32-32. The Raptors opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run, extending a 13-2 surge that gave them a five-point lead. By halftime, Toronto had pushed the advantage to 61-51, fueled by 50 percent shooting from three-point range (9-for-18) while holding Cleveland to 28 percent (5-of-18) from deep. The Cavaliers also committed 10 turnovers in the half, helping fuel Toronto’s surge. In the third quarter, Cleveland could not cut the deficit to fewer than nine points. The Raptors answered every Cavaliers push, maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the period. But the tide turned in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland’s Fourth-Quarter Comeback and Overtime Drama

Dean Wade hit a three-pointer to trim Toronto’s lead to 96-88, and Donovan Mitchell followed with his second three of the game and a fast-break layup to cut the lead to 96-93 with 6:54 remaining. Mitchell, who had only seven points at halftime, finished with 24 as he heated up in the fourth quarter. Evan Mobley led all scorers with 26 points, including the game-tying shot in regulation, and grabbed 14 rebounds. In overtime, James Harden gave Cleveland its first lead of the second half with a jumper in the lane, making it 108-106. But Scottie Barnes answered with a floater to tie the game. Mitchell’s layup with 33.7 seconds left put the Cavaliers on top 110-108, setting the stage for Barrett’s heroics.

A Controversial Out-of-Bounds Call Haunts the Cavaliers

What could haunt Cleveland is that Barrett might not have had the opportunity for the game-winner. On the previous play, Collin Murray-Broyles knocked the ball away from Evan Mobley, and it went out of bounds. The official ruled that Mobley was the last to touch the ball. But Cleveland was out of challenges and could not have the play reviewed. Head coach Kenny Atkinson had lost his second challenge in the second quarter, calling for an offensive foul on Jaylon Tyson to be reviewed. Tyson clearly elbowed Jamal Shead in the face, and the call was upheld. That earlier decision left the Cavaliers without a challenge when it mattered most.

Key Performances and Series Context

Barrett finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, shooting 4-for-12 on three-pointers. Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 25 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds. Ja’Kobe Walter also scored 24 points with five rebounds and three steals. For Cleveland, James Harden added 16 points but shot 5-of-14 from the floor. The home team has won each game in this series, leaving the Cavaliers to hope that pattern continues on Sunday. The Raptors, meanwhile, have forced a Game 7 for the first time since 2003, when three first-round series went the distance. This year’s three Game 7s in the first round are the second-most since the current seven-game format was introduced in 2003.

What Lies Ahead in Game 7

The decisive game will be played Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Cleveland. The Cavaliers will look to regain home-court advantage, while the Raptors aim to carry the momentum of a dramatic overtime win. For Toronto, the series has been a test of resilience, overcoming a halftime deficit and a late Cleveland surge. For Cleveland, the sting of a controversial call and a miraculous bounce will linger. Whoever wins will advance to face the winner of the other first-round series, but for now, both teams are focused on the immediate challenge. The Raptors have proven they can win on the road, but the Cavaliers have yet to lose at home in this series. Sunday will determine which team’s trend holds.

The bottom line

• RJ Barrett’s fortuitous 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime gave Toronto a 112-110 win and forced a Game 7.
• The Raptors overcame a double-digit halftime deficit and a late Cleveland surge to force overtime.
• Cleveland was unable to challenge a critical out-of-bounds call because it had exhausted its challenges earlier in the game.
• Evan Mobley led all scorers with 26 points and 14 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell scored 24 after a slow start.
• The home team has won every game in the series, setting up a decisive Game 7 in Cleveland on Sunday.
• This is the first time since 2003 that three first-round playoff series have gone to Game 7.