TORONTO — The Cavaliers are attempting to close out their first-round NBA playoff series in Game 6 against the Toronto Raptors on Friday, May 1, at Scotiabank Arena.
Winning on the road is required to accomplish the feat. Through the first five games of the best-of-seven series, the home team has won each time, with the Cavs earning a 3-2 lead.
Tipoff for the fourth-seeded Cavs versus the fifth-seeded Raptors occurred at 7:41 p.m. in Canada. Check below for updates throughout Game 6.
Scottie Barnes just pulled off a genuinely jaw-dropping play in Game 6.
Barnes advanced the ball, spun around James Harden and then in one move posterized Jarrett Allen with a two-handed dunk. For good measure, Barnes also blocked a shot on the next possession.
The Raptors lead the Cavs 47-43 with 5:35 left in the first half.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson has talked quite a bit about Cleveland needing to win the possession game. It’s mission accomplished on the rebounding front, but the Raptors still lead 45-38 with 7:24 left in the second quarter.
The Cavs are winning the rebound battle 16-8, but they’re also losing the turnover battle 9-3, which is weighing heavily into the seven-point deficit.
For Cleveland, Evan Mobley is again having a strong game, as he’s now up to 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.
For Toronto, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes have both put up 12 points, a needed scoring output with Brandon Ingram sidelined.
Raptors guard Jamal Shead already has his third foul 26 seconds into the second quarter, and RJ Barrett followed with his third foul of the game about two minutes later.
The Raptors are entering a difficult foul situation, especially with Brandon Ingram unavailable.
With 9:44 left in the first half, the Raptors lead the Cavs 37-32.
The score at the end of the first quarter between the Cavs and Raptors was tied 32-32.
The Raptors went 13-of-23 shooting from the field (4 of 9 on 3-pointers) in the first quarter. The Cavs went 10-of-16 shooting from the floor (3 of 7 on 3s).
The Cavs outrebounded the Raptors 11-4, but the Cavs also lost the turnover battle 5-1 in the first quarter.
Forwards Evan Mobley and Max Strus led the Cavs with eight and six points, respectively, through the opening quarter. Guard RJ Barrett paced the Raptors with nine points, followed by forward Scottie Barnes with eight points.
The Cavs are crushing the Raptors 11-2 in the rebounding battle, one reason Cleveland led 30-24 with 2:05 left in the first quarter.
Forward Evan Mobley is off to a strong start to Game 6. He has eight points and four rebounds to lead the Cavs. Mobley made his first two field goals and first four free throws. Forward Max Strus has six points on 2-of-2 shooting from the field (both shots were 3-pointers) and four rebounds.
Forward Scottie Barnes leads the Raptors with eight points.
Is this the game in which Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell will have a vintage Donovan Mitchell performance?
Mitchell hasn’t scored more than 20 points since he had 32 and 30 in Games 1 and 2.
With 6:43 left in the first quarter, Mitchell made a layup to give the Cavs a 16-15 lead preceding a timeout. He also made a 3-pointer earlier in the opening quarter, so he has five points thus far.
With 10:33 left in the first quarter, Cavs point guard James Harden and Raptors guard RJ Barrett combined for a double technical foul.
Harden made a putback. Then when Harden was on the floor after the play, he grabbed one of Barrett’s ankles.
Harden was initially called for a technical foul by himself. However, through a replay review, Barrett also received a technical.
Harden’s putback gave the Cavs a 6-5 lead.
Cavs center Jarrett Allen threw down a reverse dunk on the first possession of Game 6 and landed on the court with a frightening thud.
Allen took a moment to rise, but he remained in the game. Forward Evan Mobley dished out an assist on Allen’s dunk.
Below is some pregame information.
Game 6 between the Cavs and Raptors will be televised nationally by Prime Video. The local radio broadcast can be heard via WTAM (1100-AM) or WMMS (100.7-FM).
The Cavs did not include any players on their injury report for Game 6.
However, starting center Jarrett Allen (right knee tendonitis) and backup guard Sam Merrill (right hand/finger) are among the Cavs players who are dealing with injuries.
The Raptors initially listed forward Brandon Ingram (right heel inflammation) as questionable to play in Game 6, but they downgraded him to doubtful on the morning of May 1. And during pregame media availability, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic ruled out Ingram for Game 6. Ingram sat out the second half of Game 5 with the same injury.
The Raptors did not list forward Scottie Barnes on their injury report for Game 6, even though he suffered a right quadriceps injury in Game 5. Rajakovic said Barnes is feeling good.
Raptors starting point guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain) has not appeared in the postseason. On April 24, Toronto ruled out Quickley for the remainder of the first round.
The Cavs announced they will use the same starting lineup in Game 6 as the one they used in Game 5. Here it is:
- Point guard James Harden
- Guard Donovan Mitchell
- Forward Max Strus
- Forward Evan Mobley
- Center Jarrett Allen
Here is the starting lineup the Raptors announced they will use for Game 6:
- Guard Jamal Shead
- Guard Ja’Kobe Walter
- Guard RJ Barrett
- Forward Scottie Barnes
- Center Jakob Poeltl
Cavs playoff schedule. Cavaliers vs. Raptors in 2026 NBA playoffs
Here is the schedule for the Cavs-Raptors series, with the dates and times the NBA has announced thus far:
- Game 1: Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113; Cavs lead series 1-0
- Game 2: Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105; Cavs lead series 2-0
- Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavaliers 104; Cavs lead series 2-1
- Game 4: Raptors 93, Cavs 89; series tied 2-2
- Game 5: Cavs 125, Raptors 120; Cavs lead series 3-2
- Game 6: Cavs at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, Prime Video
- Game 7: Raptors at Cavs, time TBD Sunday, May 3, TBD network, if necessary
Eastern Conference playoff bracket 2026
- No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic; Magic lead series 3-2
- No. 2 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers; series is tied 3-3
- No. 3 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks; Knicks won series 4-2
- No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors; Cavs lead series 3-2
Cleveland Cavaliers playoff history during their Donovan Mitchell era
This is the fourth consecutive season the Cavs have made the playoffs.
Here are the results from their previous three playoff appearances, all of which have occurred since the Cavs traded for All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in 2022:
- 2024-25: Lost 4-1 in second round to Indiana Pacers after sweeping Miami Heat 4-0 in first round
- 2023-24: Lost 4-1 in second round to Boston Celtics after beating Orlando Magic 4-3 in first round
- 2022-23: Lost 4-1 in first round to New York Knicks
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