Full Breakdown
Barrett's Bouncing Three Sends Raptors to Game 7
5/3/2026, 5:08:58 AM
Series Context and Key Performances
Game 6 of the first-round series between the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers took place at Scotiabank Arena. With the Raptors down 2-0 early, they won three straight home games to tie the series 3-3, forcing a Game 7 in Cleveland—a venue where Toronto is 0-10 all-time. RJ Barrett finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, delivering a 29-foot three-pointer in the final 1.2 seconds of overtime. Scottie Barnes added 25 points, seven rebounds and 14 assists; Collin Murray-Boyles contributed 17 points and key defensive stops. For Cleveland, Evan Mobley posted 26 points and 14 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points despite shooting 2-for-10 from three.
Statistical Overview
Toronto shot 46 % from the field and 36.1 % from three; Cleveland shot 43 % overall and 26.8 % (11-of-41) from three. Cleveland out-rebounded Toronto 52-38, including 19 offensive boards, but scored only 54 points in the paint. Toronto recorded 27 assists, 13 steals, nine blocks and 20 fast-break points versus Cleveland’s six.
Official Reactions
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic praised the team’s resilience, noting the shot felt like an eternity and expressing pride for the city. He said the after-timeout play was designed for Barrett. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson called the loss a setback, urging the team to regroup, protect home-court advantage and focus on Game 7. Both organizations highlighted the series-tying win and the need for adjustments.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts pointed to Cleveland’s 26.8 % three-point shooting and Mitchell’s 2-for-10 performance as key shortcomings. Despite a dominant interior presence, the Cavaliers were criticized for relying on perimeter shots late in the game instead of exploiting their paint advantage.
On-the-Ground Crowd Reaction
A sellout crowd of 19,919 erupted when Barrett’s shot hit the rim, bounced high and fell through, prompting coach Rajakovic’s description of the moment as “half a second that felt like an eternity.”
Conflicting Timing Reports
Fox News placed the decisive play at 10.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter, while ESPN and other outlets recorded the three-pointer at 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime, reflecting divergent accounts of the final sequence.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I knew it was good because it went straight up. If it goes straight up, you've got a chance, like that [Tyrese] Haliburton shot,” — RJ Barrett, Guard, Toronto Raptors
- “It was only half a second, but it felt like an eternity,” — Darko Rajakovic, Head Coach, Toronto Raptors
- “He was like, 'I got you, Just trust me,'" Barnes recalled.” — Scottie Barnes, Forward, Toronto Raptors
- “Sometimes the basketball gods aren’t with you,” — Kenny Atkinson, Head Coach, Cleveland Cavaliers
- “Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, RJ Barrett. Appreciate it.” — LeBron James, Forward, Los Angeles Lakers
What Lies Ahead
Game 7 will be played Sunday night in Cleveland. The Raptors aim to complete the comeback; the Cavaliers will seek to use their rebounding edge and home-court advantage.
