After dropping the first two games of their opening-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors have answered back with consecutive wins at home to even the series 2-2. Sunday afternoon’s contest was a thriller, as Toronto pulled it out 93-89.
The Raptors were led in scoring by Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, who each had 23 points, combining for 19 of them from the free throw line. For Cleveland, it was an unimpressive showing, particularly from their star backcourt. James Harden shot 6-for-14 with seven turnovers, while Donovan Mitchell shot 6-for-24 with four turnovers. A lot of that can be credited to Toronto’s defense, as there was a clear game plan against that Cleveland duo.
Earlier in the series, RJ Barrett was honest in admitting how tough of a cover both Harden and Mitchell are, but seemed to indicate that the Raptors could do a better job executing their game plan.
"To be honest, they’re a problem,” said Barrett earlier in the series. “They’re a problem. We gotta go watch the film and figure out how to fix that.”
The Raptors' renewed game plan was on full display in this one, and that’s why Toronto was able to even the series heading back to Cleveland for Game 5.
Speaking on Barrett after the game, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic had high praise.
"What I'm seeing, in that way with a clear eye, is how much he cares about this team and how much he wants to win, how much he wants to do it for his city and for for the for Canada," he said via Michael Grange of Sportsnet.
Another big key in this game for the Raptors was the play off the bench of Collin Murray-Boyles. Finishing with a double-double, Murray-Boyles tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three assists and two steals. He was a +11 in a game Toronto won by four points. His defense down the stretch was also critical, as was the defensive play of Jamal Shead.
While he missed all five of his three-point attempts, Shead pulled down four rebounds, dished out four assists, and played some incredible defense. He made the huge defensive play on Donovan Mitchell to force an 8-second violation that would prove to be a game-winning defensive play. He was a team-high +15 in this game.
Neither team shot the ball well on Sunday, as the Raptors made just four of their 33 three-point attempts, with Cleveland shooting 10-for-40 from beyond the arc. It was an old-school Eastern Conference NBA playoff game and one that has completely shifted the dynamic in this series.
Game 5 will be played in Cleveland on Wednesday, with the winner putting themselves one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals series.