The Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Toronto Raptors, 114-102, in Game 7 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
The Cleveland Cavaliers certainly made it more difficult than it needed to be, but in the end, it’s the Wine and Gold who are advancing to the Conference Semi-Finals after taking down the Toronto Raptors in Game 7, 114-102.
Despite the final score and the Cavaliers owning a 22-point lead at one point, that’s not how the game started or how it looked through the first 24 minutes. It truly was a tale of two halves, and thankfully, that narrative favored Cleveland.
The first half of Game 7 looked much like the first six games of the series: the Raptors were exerting their force on defense, forcing 13 Cleveland turnovers. Because of Toronto’s defense, the Cavaliers only shot 41 percent from the floor in the first 24 minutes.
Heading into halftime, Cleveland and Toronto were tied at 49 points apiece, which is pretty fitting considering the two teams were tied at 669-669 total points through the first six games of the series.
Then, in the second half, something clicked for the Cavaliers, and they turned into the team that most people expected them to be throughout the series: an offensive juggernaut that ran the Raptors off the floor.
May 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Toronto Raptors guard A.J. Lawson (0) fouls Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half of game seven in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesCleveland came out of the locker room on a mission. The Wine and Gold outscored Toronto 38-19 while shooting 48 percent from the floor in the third. The key to this run was rebounding second-chance opportunities, with Cleveland scoring 14 second-chance points.
Plus, the Cavaliers played clean basketball, only turning the ball over once.
Two players in particular deserve recognition and praise for Cleveland advancing to the next round: Jarrett Allen and Max Strus.
Jarrett Allen finished with 22 points and 19 rebounds, with 14 of those points and 10 of the boards coming in the third quarter. Yes, JA logged a double-double in one 12-minute stretch.
As for Strus, he simply filled the stat sheet with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and brought a level of energy that was severely lacking through the first six games. The veteran forward finished with a +/- of positive 20, which was the highest on the team.
The jobs are not finished for Cleveland yet; far from it. Next up for the Cavaliers will be the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals will be on Tuesday.
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