TORONTO: The Toronto Raptors did not need rhythm to respond in Game 4 of the NBA playoffs. They needed resilience.
On a night where shots refused to fall, Toronto leaned on defense, composure and the energy inside Scotiabank Arena to secure a 93-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, tying their first-round playoff series at 2-2.
“We just never flinched. We continued guarding and guarding. Whatever it takes, just find a way to win the game,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said.
Toronto shot just 32 percent from the field and struggled from three-point range, but their defensive intensity kept them within reach throughout.
“Even when on the offensive side we could not make wide open shots or layups, it speaks a lot about the character of the team and the togetherness of this team,” Rajakovic added.
Scottie Barnes, the Raptors forward, led from the front, finishing with 23 points while anchoring the team’s defensive effort and late-game execution.
“I’m just trying to win basketball games and do whatever it takes to go out there and win. Being a winner, making that effort, trying to do more and make an impact — that’s my main focus. How can I win and how can I help someone else?” Barnes said.
“It was great to hear the crowd. The energy was amazing. When there’s that much energy, it obviously boosts us and has an impact on the game,” he added.
His influence extended into the closing moments, where Toronto’s defensive discipline proved decisive.
Rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles delivered one of the defining plays of the game with a late stop on Donovan Mitchell, sealing a crucial possession.
“I just have the confidence to guard those types of calibre guys. That’s something I wanted to do since I got in the league, to guard the best of the best and try to make it as hard as possible,” Murray-Boyles said.
Murray-Boyles also created extra possessions through his work on the boards, a critical factor on a night where offense was limited.
“That’s something I do, something I’ve been successful with throughout the season. As the series goes on and the games get tougher, we need everybody, and the things I do help the team,” he added.
Offensively, the Raptors stayed composed despite their struggles, trusting their defensive identity to carry them through.
Forward Brandon Ingram finished with 23 points and six rebounds, including three of Toronto’s four three-pointers, after entering Sunday averaging 12 points on 39.4 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from three.
“We all communicated with each other to keep shooting. We’re getting good looks. We missed some layups and a lot of open shots. It’s only going to happen on defense. You’ve got to play defense, come back down the other end and still have confidence,” Ingram said.
Toronto guard Jamal Shead was a key contributor, whose defensive pressure forced a late eight-second violation, helping shift momentum in the closing stages.
“Jamal’s a smart player. Being able to make that read and having the clock awareness in that split second shows how smart he is. Him staying calm in those moments, especially in his first time there, just shows how good a player he is and how he helps our team,” Barnes said.
In a game defined by missed shots and physical play, the Raptors’ mindset ultimately proved decisive, with Toronto recording the lowest shooting percentage for a winning team in a playoff game since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.
“I told our guys at halftime that it’s awesome that we’re shooting 27 percent from the field and 15 percent from the three-point line. And I was lying. I told them we were going to shoot better in the second half. We did not,” Rajakovic said.
The victory completes a strong response from Toronto after dropping the opening two games in Cleveland, turning the series into a best-of-three.
That mindset was summed up by Rajakovic. “Whatever it takes, just find a way to win the game,” he said.
Game 5 is in Cleveland on Wednesday, where the Raptors face a key test away from home against a Cavaliers side expected to respond, with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden expected to lead the pushback as the series turns into a best-of-three battle.
