The Cleveland Cavaliers take Game 1 vs. the Toronto Raptors, 126-113, after a hard-fought first half.
Game 1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first-round matchup against the Toronto Raptors is officially in the books, and it’s the Wine and Gold who came out on top with a final score of 126-113, taking a 1-0 series lead against their Eastern Conference Rival.
The contest was truly a tale of two halves, with the first 24 minutes much closer and more competitive than the post-half-time action between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds.
Through the first two quarters, the Cavs held just a seven-point lead, and the overall offensive stats were pretty even, even with the Raptors having the slight edge in some categories.
Cleveland shot 52 percent from the floor and 47 percent from behind the arc, with the Raptors connecting on 52 percent of their shots from the field, including a three-point percentage of 53 percent during the first half.
It really looked like Game 1 could come down to the wire heading into halftime, but coming into the third quarter is really where Cleveland separated itself.
Apr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesThe Cavs outscored the Raptors 36-22 in the third quarter. Of course, Donovan Mitchell was at the center of this run, scoring 11 points and dishing out four assists, but it was the supporting cast that really overwhelmed Toronto.
Max Strus scored eight points in the third quarter and even ended the game with 24 points. Evan Mobley also made an impact immediately coming out of halftime with a +/- of a positive 13 in the quarter.
It was also clear that Cleveland made some necessary defensive adjustments coming out of halftime, as the Raptors shot 38 percent from the floor in the third quarter.
It really was that 12-minute stretch that decided the game in favor of the Cavaliers.
Cleveland taking Game 1 is, of course, a tremendous way to start the series. However, it was by no means a perfect performance for the Cavaliers on either end of the floor.
For example, the Raptors shot just 35 percent from three during the regular season, which was in the back half of the NBA. Their three-point percentage of 48 percent in Game 1 can’t become a trend in this series, or Cleveland could be in trouble.
Game 2 of this first-round playoff series between the Cavaliers and Raptors will take place on Monday, with tip-off at 7:00 PM EST.
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