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Clutch doesn’t even begin to describe Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett’s season-saving shot.
The Raptors, down 3-2 in the series, trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-109 with 10.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night.
Barrett inbounded to Scottie Barnes with the Raptors needing a basket to save their season. Barnes dribbled to the free throw line and then kicked the ball back to Barrett, who was waiting at the top of the key.
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Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett celebrates with fans after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first round of the NBA playoffs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on May 1, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Barrett hit a 3-pointer, a shot that would find the back of the net if the Raptors were to force a Game 7 and extend their season. Instead, Barrett found the back of the rim and the ball bounced nearly seven feet off it.
The ball then dropped and went through the net, giving the Raptors a 112-110 lead with 1.2 seconds left. Evan Mobley had a chance to win it for the Cavaliers, but his 3-pointer bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said he felt Barrett’s shot was in the air for an eternity.
“It was only half a second, but it felt like an eternity,” Rajakovic said. “I was happy for him, for this team, for this city, that the shot fell.”
Barrett said he knew it had a chance to fall because of where the ball landed on the rim.
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Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett scores the game-winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during overtime in Game 6 of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on May 1, 2026. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)
“I thought it was still good because it went straight up,” Barrett said. “When it goes straight up, you have a chance.”
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson had a more succinct reaction to Barrett’s season-saving shot.
“Sometimes the basketball gods aren’t with you,” Atkinson said.
The Cavaliers are now looking to turn the page and win Game 7 at home.
“That’s why you fight so hard to get home court advantage,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. This is the playoffs, that’s what it’s about. We have to recover and get ready for Sunday’s game.”
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Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett reacts after scoring the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario on May 1, 2026. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)
“Protect home court,” Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re down by 30 or two, protect home plate. That’s all you can do.”
For Raptors fans, the friendly bounce was reminiscent of an even bigger playoff basket north of the border: Kawhi Leonard’s four-hop, buzzer-beating winner against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Raptors fans hope they can get another special memory when the team plays the Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET.
