The Toronto Raptors made a habit of winning ugly during a regular season that produced the franchise’s first playoff appearance in four years. They took it to another level Sunday afternoon.
In a game where neither team could shoot straight, the Raptors ground their way to a series-tying 93-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a pivotal Game 4 inside Scotiabank Arena. Scottie Barnes drained six free throws in the final 34.6 seconds — part of an 11-2 Toronto run to close out the game — and the Raptors sent the Eastern Conference first-round series back to Cleveland tied at 2-all.
The first half was unsightly, as the two teams combined for 74 points on 30.3-percent shooting (30 of 99) from the field. Neither team topped 40 points, marking the first time that’s happened in a playoff game in 11 years. And they had more than twice as many turnovers (18) as made 3-pointers (7).
While the scoring ticked up a notch in the second half, the overall 1990s half-court slugfest aesthetic remained. It wasn’t until Donovan Mitchell and Cavs teammate James Harden drained three 3-pointers during a 15-2 fourth-quarter run that Cleveland surged ahead. But the Toronto defense held the Cavs to just one basket over the final 130 seconds to secure the win and set up a massive Game 5 on Wednesday night at Rocket Arena.
Here are some takeaways from Sunday’s game:
Toronto relies on intangibles in win
As a wise Radioactive Man once said, “The goggles do nothing.”
It’s a classic bit from “The Simpsons,” but it calls to mind the Toronto Raptors at their worst. For a team that made the playoffs, their offensive attack is a tough watch. If you love scoring, it can be like toxic acid rushing into your unprotected peepers in vicious waves.
The Raptors are challenged when shooting from deep, something their 44.7 percent accuracy from 3 coming into Sunday’s game did not accurately portray. On Sunday, the issue was on full display. The Utah Jazz hold the record for worst 3-point percentage when attempting at least 30 3s in a playoff game (3 for 30, 10 percent), and the Raptors flirted with it all evening. As expected, Cleveland’s defence contracted into a tight box. They ended the day 4 for 30 from 3, and won despite shooting 32 percent from the floor — the lowest accuracy for a team that has won a playoff game since the NBA-ABA merger.
The Raptors have enough intangibles to keep games close, against all 2026 basketball logic. Even with All-Star Brandon Ingram scuffling, the Raptors kept grinding out possession after possession. That was perhaps best exemplified by the fact that, with the Raptors trailing by one point in the final minute, Barnes and Jamal Shead ambushed Donovan Mitchell, creating an eight-second violation. The Raptors did their job from the free-throw line and figured out a way. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles didn’t bite with the Raptors up 3 and Mitchell trying to tie the game. Beyond his years.
So it was that the Raptors survived the worst day you could reasonably imagine. It was a hideous thing of beauty, and maybe the most 2025-26 Raptors win possible. — Eric Koreen
Mitchell, Cavs wilt down the stretch
Hi, Cleveland. Welcome back from the NFL Draft.
Your basketball team did not have the best weekend in Toronto.
If you wiped your eyes after digesting seven rounds, countless draft grades, and probably an early mock for 2027 or two, only to see the Cavs completely outmuscled by Toronto on Sunday, well, it was pretty much that way here in Games 3 and 4.
There were two fourth-quarter collapses. On Thursday, the Cavs simply weren’t competitive in the final frame. On Sunday, they coughed up an eight-point lead with 4:30 left.
The Raptors won a game despite shooting 13 percent from 3-point range. It should have been an impossibility, but, also like Game 3, the Cavs were ridiculous with the turnovers. This time, they committed 18 of them for 17 points, while only scoring seven off of Toronto’s turnovers. Harden followed up his eight turnovers from Game 3 with seven more in Game 4.
After two strong games to begin this series, Evan Mobley was dominated in the last two games by Barnes. Mobley and Allen combined for 5-of-16 shooting.
Mitchell was also poor again, shooting 6 of 24. He scored 12 in the fourth quarter and looked to be on his way toward saving the game, but he and the Cavs wilted.
So, welcome back to the hardwood. You have your linemen of the future and a couple of receivers.
But now you have to worry about getting to the second round, not of a draft, but of the NBA playoffs. — Joe Vardon
