RJ Barrett's Overtime Three Forces Game 7 as Raptors Edge Cavaliers 112-110

Key facts

• RJ Barrett hit a 29-foot three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime to give Toronto a 112-110 win.
• The series is tied 3-3; Game 7 is Sunday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
• Toronto has lost all 10 previous playoff games in Cleveland.
• Scottie Barnes recorded a double-double with 25 points and 14 assists.
• Evan Mobley led Cleveland with 26 points and 14 rebounds.
• Brandon Ingram was ruled out less than two hours before Game 6 due to right heel inflammation.
• Immanuel Quickley has missed the entire series with a strained right hamstring.
• Toronto won Game 4 93-89 despite shooting 4-for-30 from three-point range.

A Shot That Saved a Season

With three seconds left in overtime and the Toronto Raptors trailing by one, RJ Barrett caught the ball beyond the arc, rose, and released a 29-foot three-pointer. The ball took a high bounce off the rim before swishing through the net with 1.2 seconds remaining, giving the Raptors a 112-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday at Scotiabank Arena. The win staved off elimination and forced a decisive Game 7 in the Eastern Conference first-round series, now tied 3-3. The Raptors, who had lost Game 5 in Cleveland 125-120, returned home needing a win to keep their season alive. Barrett's heroics ensured they would get at least one more game.

How the Raptors Built Their Overtime Win

Toronto controlled the game for most of regulation and overtime, holding Cleveland without a lead from 50 seconds left in the first quarter until the 2:37 mark of the extra period. Neither team shot well from the field, but the Raptors leaned on their defense and timely scoring. Scottie Barnes finished with 25 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds, while Barrett added 24 points and nine rebounds. Ja'Kobe Walter, starting in place of the injured Immanuel Quickley, contributed 24 points. Jamal Shead, also a fill-in starter, made one of two free throws with 25 seconds left in overtime, a crucial point given the final margin.

Cleveland's Late Surge and Controversial Call

The Cavaliers mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter and overtime. Donovan Mitchell, who struggled early, finished with 24 points, and James Harden flirted with a triple-double: 16 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Evan Mobley had his best game of the series with 26 points and 14 rebounds. With about 10 seconds left in regulation, a controversial out-of-bounds call went against Cleveland. Dennis Schroder passed to Evan Mobley near the sideline; a Raptors defender collided with Mobley, and the ball went out of bounds. Toronto was in the bonus, which would have sent Mobley to the free-throw line, but Cleveland had no challenges remaining and had to accept the call. The play added to a series of questionable officiating decisions that have drawn attention throughout the playoffs.

Injuries Reshape the Series

The Raptors entered Game 6 without two regular starters: point guard Immanuel Quickley, who has missed the entire series with a strained right hamstring, and all-star forward Brandon Ingram, who was ruled out less than two hours before tipoff. Ingram aggravated inflammation in his right heel during Game 5 and did not improve despite a day of rest. Ingram, the team's scoring leader in the regular season, had served as the primary gravity well in Toronto's offense, drawing double-teams and opening driving lanes. Without him, the Cavaliers were able to defend Scottie Barnes straight up, clogging the paint. The Raptors adjusted by using Jamal Shead to push the pace, hunting early-clock opportunities to neutralize Cleveland's rim protection.

A Series of Ugly Beauty

The Raptors have made a habit of winning ugly. In Game 4, they shot 4-for-30 from three-point range yet still defeated Cleveland 93-89, holding the Cavaliers to 32 percent shooting—the lowest field-goal percentage for a winning team since the NBA-ABA merger. Barnes sank six free throws in the final 34.6 seconds to seal that victory. Toronto's offensive struggles are a recurring theme; their 44.7 percent accuracy from three in the regular season was misleading. In Game 4, they flirted with the record for worst three-point percentage in a playoff game (minimum 30 attempts). Yet their grit on the boards and clutch free-throw shooting have kept them alive.

Game 7: History and Stakes

Game 7 will be played Sunday at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, where the Raptors have never won a playoff game in 10 attempts. The Cavaliers will have home-court advantage and the momentum of having erased a double-digit deficit in Game 5. For Toronto, the path to victory lies in rediscovering the defensive identity that defined their Game 4 win. In Game 5, their 'swarm' defense vanished in the second half, allowing Cleveland to shoot over 55 percent. To extend their season, the Raptors must leverage transition offense, limit second-chance points, and disrupt the Cavaliers' backcourt early. The math is simple: win or go home.

The bottom line

• RJ Barrett's 29-foot three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime forced a Game 7, tying the series 3-3.
• Toronto has never won a playoff game in Cleveland (0-10), making Sunday's matchup a historic challenge.
• Brandon Ingram's absence due to right heel inflammation has forced the Raptors to rely on second-year guards Ja'Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead.
• Cleveland's Evan Mobley had his best game of the series (26 points, 14 rebounds), but the Cavaliers could not close out at home.
• The Raptors' ability to win despite poor shooting (4-for-30 from three in Game 4) highlights their defensive resilience and clutch execution.
• Game 7 will determine whether Toronto advances or ends its season, with both teams dealing with key injuries and inconsistent offense.