NBA playoffs 2026: Raptors-Cavaliers takeaways — Can Toronto make this a series?

· Yahoo Sports

The last time these two met in the playoffs was 2018, and the history between them is about as lopsided as it gets. Cleveland holds a 12-2 all-time playoff record against Toronto, winning all three previous series, including back-to-back sweeps in 2017 and 2018. The Raptors came in having swept the regular-season series 3-0, with a legitimate case that this playoff matchup would be different. Game 1 didn't offer much evidence of that. Cleveland won 126-113, taking an early series lead over Toronto. Here’s what decided it.

Visit sportbet.rodeo for more information.

The Cavs were brilliant at all three levels, but it was their dominance near the rim that created the biggest advantage in Saturday’s victory. Cleveland scored 48 points in the paint, generating high-percentage attempts off James Harden's pick-and-roll operation and Donovan Mitchell's unrelenting drives. Toronto, meanwhile, managed 30 points in the paint — a workable number in isolation, but a losing number when the team on the other side is getting to the rim that freely. The Raptors' first dunk as a team didn't come until Scottie Barnes converted one midway through the fourth quarter, by which point the game was effectively over. Sandro Mamukelshvili led the Raptors in rebounding, signaling a major issue if they want to keep up in this series. Jakob Poeltl was a no-show (4 points, 6 rebounds) for Toronto, while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined for 27 points and 14 rebounds, shooting 9-for-13 from the paint. Brandon Ingram was elite in the mid-range in the first half, but when Cleveland is getting that many clean looks at the rim while you're settling for contested mid-range attempts, you're playing into their hands.

Cleveland outscored the Raptors 36-22 in the frame and pushed the lead to 21 entering the fourth. Mitchell scored 9 of his 30 points in the period. Then Max Strus got loose. He scored 8 of his 22 points (8-10 FG, 4-6 3PM) in the third quarter, providing a game-changing momentum boost in the third. And that’s where the game started to separate itself. Cleveland’s depth was far too much for Toronto. Both squads went deep into their rotations — the Cavs went with 10, while the Raptors ran 9. However, the Cavaliers' bench outscored the Raptors' 36-20, led by Strus. Cleveland was one of six teams in the league this season to utilize 40-plus lineups, and while rotations typically tighten in the playoffs, its depth is a genuine weapon rather than a byproduct of regular-season experimentation. The Cavs’ plug-and-play scheme could prove to be a leverage point in this series, especially with Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley injured.

For Toronto: The 17 turnovers are the most urgent and fixable issue. Cleveland turned them into 20 points, which alone made up the final margin. Ball security in Game 2 is non-negotiable. Toronto led the league in fast-break points this season, but managed just one on Saturday. To have a chance, the Raptors must push the pace before Cleveland sets its defense and weaponize transition to neutralize Mobley and Allen without fouling. The 3-point shooting was there (52% on 25 attempts), proving the offense can click when the ball moves. They need Quickley back healthy to run at full speed and more from their bigs. Toronto showed real fight in the first half. Its path back in the series is clear: make better decisions, play faster, and get more production from the frontcourt. Ingram needs to step up. After a strong first half, he scored 4 points (0-1 FG, 4-4 FT) in the second half. Inexcusable

For Cleveland: Keep pounding the paint. There's no reason to change that approach. Harden set the tone early and having six Cavs score in double figures with Mitchell going for his usual 30-piece is Cleveland at its best. Its depth allows it to match any Toronto lineup. If the Cavs keep Toronto a jump-shooting team rather than one that feeds off defense and transition, this could be a quick series.

Read full story at source