Barnes, Barrett each score 33 as
Raptors beat Cavaliers 126-104 to cut series deficit to 2-1
[April 24, 2026]
By IAN HARRISON
TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes set career playoff highs with 33
points and 11 assists, RJ Barrett added a career playoff-high 33
points and the Toronto Raptors beat Cleveland 126-104 on Thursday
night, snapping a 12-game playoff losing streak against the
Cavaliers.
Collin Murray-Boyles had 22 points, Jamison Battle scored all of his
14 points in the final quarter and Brandon Ingram added 12 as the
Raptors cut Cleveland’s lead in the Eastern Conference first-round
series to 2-1.
Game 4 is Sunday afternoon in Toronto.
“We knew we needed everybody for this win and you've seen some big
performances from everybody,” Barnes said. “It just goes to show how
resilient, how bad we wanted it. We went out there and tried to do
whatever it took.”
Barnes had five rebounds and shot 11 for 17, making 3 of 5 from
distance and going 8 for 10 at the line. He had three fouls at
halftime but didn’t pick up another the rest of the way.
“He did everything for us tonight,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic
said.
Murray-Boyles is the first Raptors rookie to score 20 or more in a
playoff game.
“He's not afraid of the moment,” Barrett said.
Up 83-81 after three quarters, Toronto pulled away by shooting 8 for
9 from 3–point range in the fourth, outscoring Cleveland 43-23.
Battle went 4 for 4 from long range in the final period.
Barrett finished 6 for 8 from distance.
The Cavaliers matched the NBA postseason record for consecutive
victories against a single opponent by winning Game 2 on Monday but
couldn’t extend that run in Toronto.
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Toronto Raptors' RJ Barrett (9) celebrates a basket against the
Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of an NBA playoff
basketball game in Toronto on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Nathan
Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
James Harden scored 18 points while Donovan
Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Max Strus all had 15.
Harden shot 5 for 13, going 3 for 10 from long range.
“They did a heck of a job,” Cavs coach Kenny
Atkinson said of Toronto's defense on Harden. “They made him work.”
Mitchell shot 7 for 16 and went 1 for 7 from distance, while Mobley
shot 4 for 13 and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.
Jaylon Tyson scored 13 points and Jarrett Allen had 12.
Toronto scored 23 points off 22 Cleveland turnovers.
Cleveland’s streak of playoff wins against Toronto began in the 2016
Eastern Conference finals, when the Cavaliers won the final three
games. Cleveland swept Toronto in the second round in both 2017 and
2018.
Cleveland also has 12-game postseason winning streaks against
Detroit and Atlanta. The Los Angeles Lakers won 12 consecutive
playoff games against Seattle from 1980 through 1989.
Toronto guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring) remained out.
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