Raptors Outlast Cavaliers in Overtime, Force Game 7
TORONTO — The Cleveland Cavaliers had the escape route mapped out. They had the lead, the ball, and a chance to leave Toronto with a series-clinching win.
Instead, the Raptors found one more swing.
RJ Barrett knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting Toronto to a 112-110 win over Cleveland in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first-round series Friday night at Scotiabank Arena. The victory tied the series at 3-3 and pushed both teams into a decisive Game 7 in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers did enough late to make the game feel salvageable, but not enough early to control it. Toronto outscored Cleveland 29-19 in the second quarter and carried a double-digit lead into halftime. The Raptors stretched the margin again in the third, forcing Cleveland to spend the final stretch digging out of a hole instead of managing the game from ahead.
Cleveland’s fourth-quarter defense nearly changed the night. The Cavs held Toronto to just 12 points in the final period and climbed back into a game that looked ready to get away from them. Evan Mobley delivered one of the strongest postseason performances of his career, finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell added 24 points, while James Harden posted 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists.
But Toronto’s stars and supporting cast answered with just enough. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 25 points, 14 assists, and 7 rebounds, while Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter each scored 24. Collin Murray-Boyles added 17 points, giving Toronto enough balance to survive Cleveland’s late push.
The Cavaliers will look back at the details with frustration. They committed 18 turnovers, which Toronto converted into 25 points. The Raptors also controlled the open floor, winning the fast-break battle 20-6. In a two-point overtime loss, those numbers do not whisper; they scream.
Cleveland’s late-game execution also became the defining storyline. The Cavs had a one-point lead and possession in the closing seconds of overtime, but a costly turnover opened the door for Barrett’s winner. Mobley had one last look from 3-point range, but his attempt hit the front of the rim as Toronto escaped with the win.
Now the series returns to Cleveland, where the Cavaliers must reset quickly. Game 7 will not care about who had the better seed, the better roster on paper, or the better chance to finish the series earlier. It will reward the team that plays cleaner basketball under pressure.
For the Cavs, that starts with ball security. Toronto has thrived when it can turn mistakes into momentum, and Cleveland cannot afford another game where live-ball turnovers feed transition chances. The Raptors have shown they can run, defend, and survive without perfect half-court offense. Cleveland must make them earn points the hard way.
The Cavaliers also need Mitchell to set the tone earlier. His late-game shot-making helped Cleveland rally, but Game 7 cannot depend on a fourth-quarter rescue mission. Cleveland needs him to attack downhill, create clean looks, and force Toronto’s defense to react from the opening quarter.
Mobley gives Cleveland a major reason for optimism. He looked composed in a heavy-pressure spot, finished efficiently, rebounded well, and gave the Cavs a dependable interior presence. If he carries that assertiveness home, Cleveland can tilt the matchup back in its favor.
Game 7 will likely come down to discipline more than talent. The Cavaliers have enough firepower to advance, especially at home, where every game in this series has gone to the host team. But they cannot play casual basketball for three quarters and expect another comeback to save them. Toronto has gained belief, Barrett has a signature moment, and Barnes has played like the engine of a team that refuses to disappear. Toronto will be hopeful to see Brandon Ingram return from his heel soreness as well.
Cleveland’s path forward is clear: protect the ball, slow Toronto in transition, get Mitchell involved early, and keep Mobley central to the offense. Do that, and the Cavs should have enough to survive Game 7 and advance.
Fail to do it, and Game 6 will not feel like a missed opportunity.
It will feel like a warning they ignored.
