TORONTO: RJ Barrett delivered when it mattered most, hitting a dramatic 29-foot three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Toronto Raptors to a 112-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers and force a decisive Game 7 in their first-round NBA playoff series.
Barrett’s shot bounced high off the rim before dropping, sealing the win in a moment that immediately drew comparisons to some of the league’s most memorable playoff finishes. It echoed Kawhi Leonard’s iconic buzzer-beater in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals, when his shot against Philadelphia bounced multiple times on the rim before falling to send Toronto through on its way to the NBA title.
It also resembled the high-arcing bounce on Tyrese Haliburton’s stepback game-winner in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, with Haliburton himself posting on social media that it “looked familiar.”
Barrett acknowledged that comparison himself when describing the shot.
“I still knew it was good because it went straight up,” he said. “Like, you know, if it goes straight up, you’ve got a chance, like that Halliburton shot.”
Barrett finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, delivering the decisive moment despite not scoring in the fourth quarter or overtime prior to the final possession.
“I didn’t make anything the whole fourth quarter or overtime. So for that shot to drop,” he added.
Toronto’s response was built on collective effort throughout, led by Scottie Barnes, who recorded a double-double with 25 points and 14 assists, along with seven rebounds.
Barnes explained the decision-making on the final possession.
“I was just trying to score. They did a good job of stopping me and brought help, so I trusted my teammate,” Barnes said, referring to Barrett. “He told me coming down the court, ‘I got you. Just trust me.’”
Barnes summed up the significance of the moment.
“To do it in the city where he grew up, that’s truly amazing. When we needed it most, he showed up. That’s big time. It’s hard to even wrap your head around that.”
Second-year guard Ja'Kobe Walter added 24 points, continuing his strong impact in a high-pressure environment.
“Anything can happen. No matter if you’re down or missing players, it all comes down to who wants it more, who brings more energy, who’s more physical, and who executes better,” Walter said.
Toronto led 61-51 at halftime and maintained control through three quarters before Cleveland responded, outscoring the Raptors 23-12 in the fourth to force overtime.
Even then, the Raptors remained composed.
“We’re going to fight. We’re going to keep fighting. We’ve just got to take one possession at a time and figure out how to get stops, and on the other end, how to get the best shot possible,” Barnes added.
From the bench, Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković reflected on the final seconds as Barrett’s shot hung in the air.
“I know it was half a second, but it felt like eternity,” Rajakovic said. “I was just hoping for him, for this city, for everybody, for all the players, that it would drop. And thank God it did.”
The victory completes a dramatic turnaround, with Toronto recovering from a 0-2 deficit to tie the series 3-3.
Heading into Game 7, Barrett outlined the team’s mindset.
“We kind of forget everything that’s happened so far. It’s one game to decide it all,” Barrett said. “I think this group has been tough and resilient, and we’ve fought through the toughest tasks all year long. Going to Cleveland, Game 7 will be a tough challenge, but that’s what we’re built for.”
Game 7 will take place in Cleveland on Sunday, where the Raptors will look to carry momentum into a winner-takes-all contest.
The Toronto Raptors have never won a playoff game in Cleveland, adding another layer of pressure heading into Game 7.
“We’ve got to be ourselves. Do what we did tonight, play hard and make it tough for every single guy on the floor,” Barnes said. “It’s going to take everybody.”
