Raptors enter must-win territory or face the indignity of getting swept by Cavaliers

All options are on the table, including starting Scottie Barnes at the point along with Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja'Kobe Walter.

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Published Apr 22, 2026  •  5 minute read

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram is defended by Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen during Game 2 in their NBA playoff series. AP Photo

Trailing 0-2 and knowing teams have a series record of 156-0 after taking the first three games, the Raptors’ predicament is quite simple heading into Thursday night’s Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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To borrow a line coined by the legendary Al Davis: Just win, Baby!

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A loss and the Raptors might as well get an early jump on their off-season.

During the two games played in Cleveland, the Raptors have only held a lead for a combined six minutes. From the opening tip to the final buzzer in Game 2, the Cavs led wire to wire.

It has been said that a series never begins until a visiting team wins on the road. If the Cavs take care of business Thursday, the series is over, if it isn’t already.

With the Raptors about to play their first home playoff game in four years, the following are five questions that must somehow be addressed for this series to return to Cleveland.

1. How does a team suddenly develop toughness?

Say all you want about Toronto’s no-show in its Game 1 loss when it trailed by as many as 26 points, or about Brandon Ingram’s disappearance or the amount of turnovers committed by the Raptors in the opening two games, but at the heart of the team’s issues is lack of toughness — both mental and physical.

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The problem is that the Raptors have lacked toughness for the entire regular season. The fact it has carried over into the post-season shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Granted, there have been stretches where toughness wasn’t the main culprit, but it must be sustained for the entire 48 minutes and not just in spurts.

Perhaps being home will help inject some level of toughness or, at worst, a much-needed level of desperation knowing the consequences of falling behind 0-3 are quite dire.

2. Can the Raptors slow down the Cavs’ two-headed monster?

In the series opener, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden went a combined 19-for-38 to score 54 points.

In Game 2, the backcourt tandem netted 58 points on 22-for-37 shooting.

Each is elite and both are capable of getting whatever shot they want, even when the shot clock is about to expire — the duo has been unstoppable.

Scottie Barnes is best equipped to guard either, but he can’t defend both at the same time. The Raptors don’t have anyone else capable of handling such offensively gifted players.

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Barnes was matched up primarily on Evan Mobley in Game 1. An adjustment in Game 2 had Barnes defend the perimeter, but it allowed Mobley to become more of an offensive catalyst knowing Barnes was no longer helping to defend the paint.

And therein lies the dilemma facing the Raptors.

As currently constructed, the Raptors are ill equipped to handle the likes of Mitchell, Harden and Mobley.

Toronto’s activity was much better in Game 2, its defence more locked in from Game 1 when the Raptors gave up 126 points, but it was nowhere good enough as the Mitchell-Mobley-Harden trio accounted for 83 of Cleveland’s 115 points.

Just about every defensive scheme imaginable must be used, including junking it up, in Game 3.

3. Why has B.I. gone MIA?

Part of it has to do with the physical toughness deficiency, part of it has to do with Cleveland’s offence, but a big part involves the Raptors’ usage of Ingram.

They tried to force-feed Ingram in Game 2 only to have the team’s leading scorer force his game.

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Head coach Darko Rajakovic twice referred to how “interesting” it was to see Ingram attempt zero free throws in his post-game availability Monday. In Game 1, Ingram had made a game-high 10 trips to the line.

He has to be aggressive and play through contact, while the Raptors need to be creative in getting Ingram the ball.

Barnes rebounded from a poor Game 1 and now it’s time for Ingram to elevate in Game 3.

He needs to score because defence is not his strength. Above all else, Ingram needs to bring a tougher edge and demeanor. When you think of Ingram’s game, those two qualities aren’t synonymous.

Raptors are desperate and it’s incumbent on Ingram to show a heightened level of desperation.

4. What to do with Jakob Poeltl?

Playoff basketball is all about matchups and the reality is that the big man — whose presence in the paint has been invaluable this season when he was healthy — does not match up well.

He’s susceptible on the perimeter and very vulnerable in pick-and-roll sequences. His offence is limited, but the Raptors need Poeltl to emerge as a presence.

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Starting Collin Murray-Boyles will help address the perimeter deficiencies, but he’s undersized when matchup up against Jarrett Allen.

CMB is a versatile defender, but in basketball size often matters. Poeltl has the size, but his stat line two games into the series is atrocious.

After playing 21 minutes in Game 1, Poeltl saw the floor a little more than nine minutes. In two games, he has recorded a combined 10 rebounds, taken a combined four shots from the field and turned the ball over four times. Right now, he’s unplayable.

At the same time, the Raptors need Poeltl who, much like Ingram, needs to summon his very best Thursday to give Toronto its best shot of extending the series.

5. How do the Raptors win Game 3?

A quick start is a must, which is doable given the Raptors will be in front of their home fans.

Much was made of the season-high 22 turnovers in Game 2, but the Cavs scored just as many points off Toronto’s miscues in Game 1 with  22 coming from 18 turnovers.

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Toronto went from scoring three fast-break points in Game 1 to recording 16 in Game 2.

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Pace is critical. The proverbial backs to the wall saying aptly describes Toronto’s lot heading into Game 3.

CMB and Ja’Kobe Walter, two players who have impressed, must start Thursday. Barnes needs to play the point, while RJ Barrett needs to continue his high level of play.

Toronto needs to create a frenzied pace by picking up the Cavs defensively in the full court.

Nothing else has worked and the Raptors are well aware that their margin for error has been reduced to zilch.

If all goes well, nothing is assured because the Cavs’ talent level is superior to Toronto.

Something needs to break Thursday and all options will be on the table.

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