RJ Barrett’s Miracle Three-Pointer in Overtime Forces Cavaliers vs Raptors Game 7 in Cleveland This Sunday
Canadian-born forward RJ Barrett delivered the most dramatic shot of the 2026 NBA Playoffs so far, burying a go-ahead three-pointer with just 1.9 seconds left in overtime to lift the Toronto Raptors past the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 on Friday night. The stunning shot — which hit the back of the rim at a seemingly impossible angle before bouncing in — sends the series back to Cleveland for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The Shot That Kept Toronto Alive
Barrett finished with 24 points and knocked down four three-pointers on the night, but nothing compared to that final shot. With the game tied and the clock winding down in overtime, Barrett received the ball at the top of the key, pump-faked to create space, and launched a contested three over a closing defender. The ball struck the back of the rim hard — sending Raptors fans’ hearts into their throats — before improbably rattling in to give Toronto a two-point advantage they would protect over the final 1.9 seconds.
After the game, Barrett was unapologetic about taking the shot. “I’m willing to live and die on me taking that shot,” he said in the postgame press conference, capturing the fearless mentality that has defined Toronto’s resilience in this series. The comment immediately resonated with fans and analysts who have watched Barrett grow into one of the most reliable late-game performers in the Eastern Conference.
How the Raptors Found Themselves Here
Cleveland entered Friday’s game holding a commanding 3-2 series advantage, needing just one more win to advance to the second round. The Cavaliers had been the more consistent team throughout the series, winning their first two games convincingly before Toronto battled back to make it a series. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic had to navigate the additional challenge of missing forward Brandon Ingram for this game due to a sore right heel, which required lineup adjustments and placed additional offensive responsibility on Barrett and the rest of the rotation.
Despite those obstacles, Toronto played their best basketball when their season was on the line. Collin Murray-Boyles had a standout performance off the bench, providing a spark that shifted the momentum during critical stretches of the second half and overtime. The three-point balance also tilted in Toronto’s favor as the game progressed, and they made key shots down the stretch when Cleveland’s offense went cold.
What to Expect in Game 7 at Cleveland
Sunday’s Game 7 will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, giving the Cavaliers a meaningful home-court advantage. Cleveland has been one of the toughest teams in the NBA to beat at home during the regular season, and their crowd brings elite energy for playoff basketball. The Cavaliers will be motivated by the memory of how close they came on Friday before Barrett stole the game.
For Toronto, the challenge is executing away from home while managing Ingram’s availability heading into Sunday. If Barrett can build on his Game 6 performance and the Raptors can match Cleveland’s physicality and pace, they are fully capable of pulling off the road upset. Both teams have shown they can win in any setting during this unpredictable series.
This Cavaliers-Raptors series has given fans everything they could want from playoff basketball — late-game heroics, momentum swings, and a seventh game with everything on the line. Sunday promises to deliver more of the same.
Game 7 Details: Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers | Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBC and Peacock