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Clutch doesn’t even begin to describe Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett’s season-saving shot.
The Raptors, trailing 3-2 in the series, trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-109 with 10.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night.
Barrett passed the ball to Scottie Barnes, and the Raptors needed a basket to save their season. Barnes dribbled to the free throw line and then kicked the ball to Barrett, who was waiting at the top of the zone.
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RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with fans after a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the NBA first-round playoffs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 1, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Barrett launched a three-pointer, a shot that needed to find the back of the net if the Raptors wanted to force a Game 7 and extend their season. Instead, Barrett found the back of the rim and the ball bounced nearly seven feet off it.
The ball then dropped and went through the net, giving the Raptors a 112-110 lead with 1.2 seconds left. Evan Mobley had a chance to win for the Cavaliers, but his three-pointer bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said it felt like Barrett’s shot was in the air for an eternity.
“It was only half a second, but it seemed like an eternity,” Rajakovic said. “I was happy for him, for this team, for this city, because the shot went down.”
Barrett said he knew he had a chance of going down because of where the ball landed on the rim.
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Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett scored the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during overtime in game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on May 1, 2026. (Nick Turchiaro/Image Images)
“I thought it was still good because it went up,” Barrett said. “When things are going up, you have a chance.”
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson had a more succinct reaction to Barrett’s season-saving shot.
“Sometimes the basketball gods aren’t with you,” Atkinson said.
The Cavaliers now look to turn the page and win game seven at home.
“That’s why you fight so hard to get home-field advantage,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. It’s the playoffs, that’s what it’s all about. We have to recover and get ready for Sunday’s game.”
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Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett reacts after scoring the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, on May 1, 2026. (Nick Turchiaro/Image Images)
“Protect the home court,” Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell said. “It doesn’t matter if we lost by 30 or two, protect the home court. That’s all you can do.”
For Raptors fans, the friendly rebound was reminiscent of an even bigger playoff basket north of the border: Kawhi Leonard’s four-rebound winner against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Raptors fans hope they can make another special memory when the team plays the Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET.
