Scottie Barnes, the best player in this series, wills Raptors to Game 6 win over Cavaliers

Get the latest from Frank Zicarelli straight to your inbox

Published May 01, 2026  •  3 minute read

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers feels the defensive pressure of Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead during Game 6 at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 . Photo by Cole Burston /Getty Images

Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce buzzer-beater to sink the Sixers in 2019. Vince Carter’s 50-pointer against the Allen Iverson-led Sixers in a series eventually lost when the ball didn’t bounce Toronto’s way in Game 7.

Article content

You can add Scottie Barnes’ tour de force to that elite list of high-end playoff performances in Raptors history.

Article content

Article content

To cap the night off, a bounce of fortune fell on the Raptors when RJ Barrett’s three-pointer was the difference in a thrilling 112-110 OT win over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at Scotiabank Arena.

No road team has won a road and yet the Raptors must win in Cleveland on Sunday in Game 7 to advance.

Barnes wasn’t completely healthy, though one couldn’t tell, and Toronto’s roster was depleted.

Still, he was brilliant, though the Raptors story on this night featured many players who stepped up, many who left everything out on the court in one of the gutsiest playoff performances in club history.

No Brandon Ingram (heel), no problem.

The Raptors led by 11 points heading into the fourth period., and as good as Barnes was, Ja’Kobe Walter had the game of his life, once again showing he’s not afraid of the moment. The second-year Raptor poured in 24 points to tie Barrett one behind Barnes’ 25 and added five rebounds and three steals.

Article content

Article content

INJURIES OVERCOME

There was a stretch in the opening quarter that pretty much summed up the state of the Raptors.

While injuries are part of any game, this series has stretched Toronto’s roster to the limit, with a starting point guard in Immanuel Quickley whose status went from day-to-day to being ruled out entirely; and the team’s most versatile scorer in Ingram unavailable in an elimination game after he couldn’t complete the opening half in Game 5.

And there was Barnes, who was on the floor with an undrafted player in Jamison Battle, two second-year players in Jamal Shead and Walter and a rookie in Collin Murray-Boyles.

Regardless of who was given minutes, the Raptors continued to battle and compete as hard as the body would allow.

Barnes could have been surrounded with G-Leaguers and it wouldn’t have mattered.

AGGRESSIVE, STIFLING DEFENCE

Barnes was clearly compromised following his Game 5 thigh contusion, but it did little to slow him down as he never took a possession off, looking to score when he had to, looking to make the right play by finding the open man.

Article content

The Raptors began by playing a type of aggressive defence that can lend itself to foul trouble.

Jakob Poeltl, Barrett and Shead each picked up two in the opening period. Shead would eventually pick up his sixth and disqualifying foul in OT.

Undaunted, the Raptors continued to extend their defence, occasionally picking up their man in the full court and always maintaining a swarming style that gave the Cavs issues.

PUSHING THE ENVELOPE

When Barrett picked up his third foul two minutes into the second quarter, the Raptors continued playing at a frenetic pace that was far from reckless. Rather, it was the right style to embrace knowing what was at stake.

Turnovers were being forced and parlayed into points and shooters were being run off the three-point line as the Raptors put on a defensive clinic.

Barnes had two turnovers in the opening half, his last on Toronto’s final possession on an errant entry pass.

Barnes played a near flawless half, posting a double-double (14 points, 10 assists) in leading Toronto to its 61-51 lead at the break. The Barnes-Barrett-Walter trio combined for 42 points.

Article content

Credit the Cavs for playing much better in the second half. But once again, they became rattled when a basket was required in overtime.

In their previous two visits to Toronto, the Cavs suffered from self-induced wounds, costing them two games.

It may ultimately cost them a series.

Barnes hasn’t just emerged as the best player in this series, but a case can be made that he’s become the best player in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Barrett is proving to be more of a complementary piece to Barnes than Ingram, while Shead, Walter and Murray-Boyles have seamlessly fitted in.

[email protected]

Article content