The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered when it mattered most, using a dominant second-half surge to defeat the Toronto Raptors 114-102 in Game 7 on Sunday night, clinching the series 4-3 and punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
In a winner-take-all environment, it was Jarrett Allen who anchored Cleveland’s effort with a massive performance, tying his playoff career high with 22 points while hauling in 19 rebounds. His presence in the paint overwhelmed Toronto, especially during a decisive stretch that flipped the game on its head.
Cleveland found additional firepower from its backcourt, as Donovan Mitchell led the team with 22 points, while James Harden contributed 18. The Cavaliers’ balanced scoring attack proved critical in a series where the home team won all seven games and Game 7 was no exception.
Toronto, making its first playoff appearance since 2022, was led by Scottie Barnes, who finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, while RJ Barrett added 23. However, the Raptors were hampered by the absence of All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, who missed his second straight game with a bruised right heel.
The game turned during a breathtaking 15-minute stretch spanning the second and third quarters. Trailing by nine, Cleveland unleashed a 49-21 run that transformed a deficit into a commanding 19-point lead. Allen dominated inside during that stretch, including a thunderous fast-break dunk off a steal by Max Strus that pushed the lead to 74-59.
The Cavaliers shot an efficient 17-of-33 from the field during the run, knocking down five three-pointers and converting seven Toronto turnovers into 14 points. Meanwhile, the Raptors struggled to keep pace, shooting just 6-of-23 from the floor and 1-of-8 from deep.
Rebounding told another part of the story. Cleveland owned a staggering 25-8 edge on the glass during the decisive stretch, turning 10 offensive rebounds into 14 second-chance points a backbreaking difference in a tightly contested game.
Toronto had controlled much of the first half and built a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter. But Cleveland closed the half on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 49, fueled by timely three-pointers after starting just 4-of-17 from beyond the arc.
The Cavaliers carried that momentum into the third quarter, opening the half on a 9-0 run behind Mitchell and Evan Mobley to seize control for good.
With the win, Cleveland improves to 6-5 all-time in Game 7s and remains perfect in such games at home (5-0). Toronto, meanwhile, falls to 3-4 in Game 7 history and 0-2 on the road.
Next up, the fourth-seeded Cavaliers will face a daunting challenge as they travel to take on the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night. The Central Division rivals split their four regular-season meetings, setting the stage for what promises to be a highly competitive second-round showdown.
