RJ Barrett made a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime Friday night as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 to force Game 7 of the first-round playoff series.
Barrett’s Kawhi-esque bucket from straight away hit the back of the rim, bounced high into the air and fell in between the mesh. The shot was from the same end of the court as Leonard’s four-bounce miracle during Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2019 playoffs.
Barrett, the Mississauga, Ontario, native, finished with 24 points. Ja’Kobe Walter also scored 24 to set up the deciding game Sunday at Cleveland.
Scottie Barnes had 25 points and 13 assists for the Raptors, and Collin Murray-Boyles contributed 17 points.
Evan Mobley had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavaliers in a series in which the home team has won each game.
Donovan Mitchell added 24 points, and James Harden had 16 points, nine assists and four turnovers. Jarrett Allen scored 14 points, while Dean Wade contributed 10.
Toronto took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter. After two Cleveland defensive stops, Mitchell nailed a corner three and then made a driving layup to reduce the margin to three with 6:54 to go. Mobley’s rebound and dunk cut the lead to one with 5:48 left. A Barnes free throw had Toronto up by two with 1:17 left. Toronto’s shot-clock violation gave Cleveland possession with 0:16 left. Mobley’s layup tied the game at 104 with a layup with 0:12 to play in regulation. Jamal Shead missed a 17-footer to set up overtime.
After a Toronto turnover, Harden hit a 12-footer to give Cleveland a two-point lead. Barnes tied it at 108 with a floater with 1:25 left in overtime. Mitchell’s layup put Cleveland up by two with 0:34 left, and then Shead made one of two free throws to cut the lead to one. Mobley’s turnover gave Toronto the ball with 0:11 left to set up Barrett’s shot.
The game was tied at 32 after one quarter.
The Raptors led by nine points after Barnes spun around Harden before making a dunk with 7:04 left in the second quarter. Cleveland cut the lead to two before Toronto took a 61-51 halftime lead following Shead’s 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining.
A Cleveland turnover led to Barrett’s running layup and a 15-point lead with 5:02 to play in the third quarter. Toronto led 92-81 after three quarters.
Toronto was without Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley.
