Barrett Delivers Clutch Magic as Raptors Stun Cavs in OT, Push Series to Deciding Game
TORONTO — RJ Barrett’s game-winning three-pointer in overtime rattled the back rim, soared high above the backboard, and dropped through the net, igniting a sellout crowd of 19,919 fans into pure bedlam as the Raptors staved off elimination Friday night with a 112-110 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series.
RJ Barrett hits dramatic game-winner as Raptors force Game 7 with OT victory over Cavaliers – Yahoo News Canada
Barrett’s deep 29-footer from the top of the arc swished with just 1.2 seconds left, extending this back-and-forth battle to a winner-take-all Game 7 and sparking memories of legendary playoff moments from years past.
“I knew it was good because it went straight up. If it goes straight up, you’ve got a chance, like that Haliburton shot,” Barrett said, nodding to Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and his memorable play from last season’s Eastern Conference finals.
Haliburton even chimed in on social media after the game, posting on X, “That looked familiar.”
“It was only half a second, but it felt like an eternity,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “I was happy for him, for this team, for this city, that the shot went down.”
Raptors playoff basketball is back, and so is ‘Jurassic Park.’ Here’s how to get tickets | CBC News
Cavs standout Donovan Mitchell said the shot immediately reminded him of a famous Toronto playoff highlight.
“First thing I thought of was Kawhi Leonard, to be honest,” Mitchell said, referencing Leonard’s iconic four-bounce buzzer-beater in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Raptors, who trailed 2-0 in the series, have now won all three home games in Toronto to force Sunday night’s Game 7 in Cleveland. The home team has come out on top in every game so far.
Barrett, a hometown Toronto product who represented Canada at the 2024 Olympics, became just the second player in NBA history to hit a game-winning field goal in the final two seconds of overtime to avoid elimination, per ESPN Research. He tallied 24 points and nine rebounds in 43 minutes of action.
“Just happy to be able to be in this moment, playing for my hometown team,” Barrett said. “That’s amazing. I’m so proud of this group so far, and I think it’s going to be even sweeter when we go get Game 7.”
Rajakovic admitted he had a strong hunch Barrett would shine. He and his assistants even designed after-timeout plays specifically for him before the game.
“Call me crazy, call me psychic,” Rajakovic said afterward. “But I saw this one coming tonight.”
Down by one on their last possession, the Raptors inbounded to Scottie Barnes, who paced the team with 25 points and 14 assists. Barnes said he was initially looking to attack but had a quick word with Barrett beforehand.
“He was like, ‘I got you, Just trust me,'” Barnes recalled.
“Him having that trust in me to make that pass at that moment was huge,” Barrett added. “I didn’t make nothing the whole fourth quarter, whole overtime.”
Now Toronto travels to Cleveland aiming to pull off a first-round upset and etch a new chapter in franchise lore. The Raptors are 0-10 all-time in playoff games in Cleveland, including 0-3 this season.
“Forget everything that’s happened so far,” Barrett said. “We’ve got one game to decide it all. This group has been tough and resilient, and we’ve fought through the toughest of tasks all year long. Going to Cleveland, Game 7, is going to be a tough task, but that’s what we’re built for.”