Cavaliers Beat Raptors 114-102 to Win Game 7

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-102 on Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Game 7 at Rocket Arena, with Jarrett Allen delivering 22 points, 19 rebounds, and 3 blocks as Cleveland used a decisive third quarter to secure the series-clinching win.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Toronto opened with a strong first 12 minutes and carried a 26-24 lead after one. The Raptors were the more settled team early, moving the ball well and getting enough half-court production to stay in front while Cleveland worked to establish its interior presence.

Second Quarter

Cleveland trimmed the deficit before halftime by edging the quarter 25-23. That left Toronto ahead 49-49? No — the game was tied 49-49 at the break after the Cavaliers matched the Raptors through the middle stages and prevented the visitors from building separation.

Third Quarter

This was the turning point. Cleveland outscored Toronto 38-19 in the third and took full control of the game. The Cavaliers owned the glass, generated repeated second-chance opportunities, and tightened up defensively, turning a tied game into an 87-68 advantage entering the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

Toronto made one last push with a 34-point fourth quarter, but Cleveland had built enough margin to hold off the rally. The Cavaliers added 27 points in the final period, stayed organized late, and closed out a 12-point win in front of a crowd of 19,432.

Key Performers

Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers: Allen was the standout on both ends, finishing with 22 points, 19 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He set the tone around the basket and gave Cleveland a reliable advantage in the paint throughout the night.

Max Strus, Cavaliers: Strus led Cleveland in assists with 5 and helped keep the offense moving during the game’s most important stretches. His playmaking complemented the Cavaliers’ frontcourt advantage.

Scottie Barnes, Raptors: Barnes led all Toronto scorers with 24 points while adding 9 rebounds and 6 assists. He continued to create offense across multiple phases, especially as the Raptors tried to respond in the fourth quarter.

Jamal Shead, Raptors: Shead finished with a team-high 7 assists and helped Toronto maintain ball movement, but Cleveland’s control of the boards limited the Raptors’ ability to turn those possessions into a complete comeback.

NerdSports Stat: Cleveland won this Game 7 despite making just 11 of 39 from three-point range because it finished plus-27 on the glass, 60-33, one of the clearest single-game possession advantages of the 2026 first round.

Game Analysis

The defining number from this game was Cleveland’s rebounding margin. The Cavaliers collected 60 rebounds to Toronto’s 33, a gap that shaped the entire second half. Even on a night when Cleveland shot just 44.7 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from three, that extra-possession edge gave the home team room to control the tempo and keep pressure on the Raptors inside.

Toronto actually entered the second half in solid position after playing Cleveland evenly through two quarters. But the third quarter changed everything. Cleveland’s 38-point period was its best of the night, and just as important, it limited Toronto to 19. That two-way swing effectively decided the game.

Free throws also mattered. The Cavaliers went 27-for-37 at the line, compared with Toronto’s 18-for-26. In a playoff game where neither team shot especially well from deep, those extra points added up quickly. Cleveland also had 23 assists on 38 made field goals, showing enough offensive balance to avoid relying on any one creator.

For Toronto, Barnes’ all-around line reflected how much he carried. The Raptors shot 43.7 percent overall and 28.6 percent from three, respectable enough to stay close for stretches, but the one-quarter dip in the third and the rebounding deficit proved too much to overcome.

Closing Context

With the win, Cleveland takes the series 4-3 and advances out of the Eastern Conference first round. The Cavaliers, who finished the regular season at 52-30, used home court and a dominant middle stretch in Game 7 to move on, while Toronto’s season ends after a competitive seven-game matchup.

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