Defense Leads Cavaliers to Come-From-Behind Victory over Toronto in Game 5
BY KEN KRIZNER
STAFF
(CLEVELAND, OH) - After watching the Toronto Raptors fire off 69 points in the second and third periods, the Cleveland Cavaliers turned in a lockdown defensive performance in the fourth period, rallying for a critical 125-120 victory in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series Wednesday night at Rocket Arena.
The victory gives Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the Best of 7 series. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night in Toronto at a time yet to be determined. Game 7, if necessary, will be back at Rocket Arena on Sunday.
The Cavaliers limited the Raptors to 17 points in the fourth period as Dennis Schroder clung to RJ Barrett, limiting the Toronto star to only three points after he scored 22 through the first three periods. At the other end of the court, Schroder scored 11 points and combined with Jaylon Tatum to take control of the game in the early going of the period.
Incredibly, the Cavaliers outscored Toronto 25-17 in the fourth period without Donvan Mitchell scoring a point.
Toronto, already without Immanuel Quickley, lost Brandon Ingram early in the second period when he suffered a right heel injury and did not return. His status for Game 6 is up in the air.
For much of Game 5, Toronto dictated the pace, both offensively and defensively. The Raptors led by as many as 12 in the third period, hitting three-pointers from all over the court and forcing the Cavaliers into bad shots and turnovers. But the game began to turn late in the third period, led by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the defensive end.
Hoping to generate more offense, the Cavaliers went with Max Strus in the starting lineup over Dean Wade who started the first four games of the series.
Prior to the game, coach Kenny Atkinson said Strus’ playoff experience was the deciding factor in moving him into the starting lineup. Plus, Atkinson said Wade, with his size, is an ideal player coming off the bench.
Offensively, the Cavaliers came out looking to establish their inside game with Jarred Allen and Evan Mobley. James Harden was looking for his shot – with a three-point shot and three-point play.
But the Raptors countered with a balanced attack led by Barrett. Early on, the Raptors took advantage of the Cavaliers defense overplaying Barrett, who delivered two assists (along with five points) to help Toronto to a 16-10 lead four minutes into the game.
Turnovers also plagued the Cavaliers. Toronto’s defense forced three Cleveland miscues in the game’s first four minutes.
Once again, Donovan Mitchell had trouble getting free early as Toronto continued to run players at him as it did in games 3 and 4.
Using pressure defense and three-point shooting, Toronto built an early 22-10 lead.
Sam Merrill, however, came off the bench and immediately delivered 5 points and an assist to Allen on a slam dunk to cut into Toronto’s lead.
And while Atkinson was hoping for early offense from Strus, it was Wade making his presence known coming off the bench with a three-point play and solid defense against Barrett.
Fueled by the bench, the Cavaliers went on an 11-0 run near the end of the period. Mitchell’s first basket, a three-pointer, came with 1:55 to go in the period to tie the game at 30. A Harden three with 48 seconds left gave Cleveland its first lead of the game.
Mitchell finished the period with a three-pointer from about 35 feet at the buzzer, capping off a 28-12 run and a 38-34 lead going into the second period.
But the Raptors scorched the Cavaliers in the second period, scoring 40 points on 16 of 24 shooting including 5 of 8 from behind the three-point line. Six Cavaliers turnovers led to 14 Toronto points in the period. Outscoring the Cavaliers 40-29, Toronto took a 74-67 lead into halftime.
Harden led the Cavs with 19 points and Mitchell added 11 in the first half. But Mobley and Allen combined for just 10 points. Wade, Tatum and Merrill provided a spark for Cleveland off the bench, scoring a combined 17 points.
But overall, many of the problems that plagued the Cavaliers in games 3 and 4 were back during the first half of Game 5. They had difficultly stopping Barrett, the Raptors were controlling the boards and, defensively, the Cavaliers were chasing the Raptors all over the court leading to many open Toronto shots.
Toronto kept up the pressure coming out of the locker room by scoring the first five points of the third period to increase its lead to 12, equaling its largest lead of the night. The Cavaliers made a concerted effort in to go inside to Mobley and Allen. While there was some success, turnovers by Allen on consecutive possessions led to five Raptors points and a nine-point lead.
For the remainder of the third period, the Cavaliers chipped into the Raptors lead slowly but surely.
Mitchell kept the Cavs within striking distance with four points, including a thunderous dunk down the middle. And a Mitchell assist to Allen got Cleveland back to within six. Allen did it on the defensive end as well, blocking a Barrett shot at the rim, which lead to a Mobley dunk at the other end.
Consecutive threes by Merrill and Harden and a bucket from Mitchell got the Cavaliers back to within two at 92-90 with 3:47 to go in the period and setting the stage for Cleveland’s fourth quarter comeback. Cleveland was within three going into the fourth period.
Cleveland took control almost immediately in the fourth quarter. When Tatum hit a three-pointer one minute into the period, the Cavaliers had come all the way back to tie the game. When Mobley hit a three on Cleveland’s next possession, the Cavaliers had their first lead since the second period.
It was a lead the Cavaliers never relinquished.
The Raptors were held without a point during the four minutes of the fourth as Schroder chased Barrett from one end of the court to the other and the Cavaliers controlling the boards and defending the three-point line. Mobley hit a hit a pair of threes as the Cavaliers built an 11-point lead.
Toronto missed its first 11 shots and was 7 of 28 from the field in the fourth, while Cleveland made 7 of its first 11 and was 9 of 19. The Raptors only scored eight points in the first seven minutes of the period.
Much like Game 4, the Raptors rallied in the last three minutes and were able to whittle the lead down to four. But unlike the fourth quarter of Game 4, the Cavaliers were able to stop the rally to secure the much-needed victory.
Mobley and Harden led the way for Cleveland with 23 points each, as well as nine rebounds apiece. Mobley was 3 for 3 from behind the arc in the second half. Mitchell and Schroder each scored 19, with Schroder leading the way in the fourth quarter. For Toronto, Barrett scored 25 points, while Ja’Kobe Walter added 20 and Jamal Shead had 18 off the bench. Scottie Barnes had 17 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
POSTED 04/30/2026 00:14
Lake County Sentinel
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Cavs superstar Donovan Mitchell takes the ball up the court in the Cavs 125-120 win over Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night at Rocket Arena. . . Photo by Ken Krizner
