**4 Key Takeaways: Cavaliers Stars Falter as Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles Shine**

Basketball News 27-Apr-2026
Basketball

2026 Playoffs: East First Round | CLE (4) vs. TOR (5)

4 takeaways: Cavaliers stars struggle while Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles thrive

The Raptors have battled back to make it a 2-2 series against the Cavs, and momentum will be on the line when they meet in Game 5.

Shaun Powell Archive
Updated on April 27, 2026 12:02 AM

The Raptors close Game 4 on a 17-5 run to defeat the Cavaliers and tie their series at 2-2.

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It was a game in which nobody played well enough to win, until someone finally did. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors endured missed shots and sloppy play for three quarters and at some point, Game 4 demanded composure and clutch play. And the Raptors stepped forward and offered it in the moment of truth. As a result, this best-of-seven series is tied at two games each.

The Raptors responded after trailing by five points with 2 1/2 minutes left to give this series a refreshed outlook with a 93-89 victory. Yes, Toronto, a team that, until now, had no positive playoff answers for Cleveland since the LeBron James days. There’s still plenty to do before erasing that stigma, although winning a pair against Donovan Mitchell and James Harden represents a start.

Furthermore, the Raptors won despite not bringing their A game; to be fair, neither did Cleveland. In the end, Scottie Barnes proved too much to handle and even better for Toronto, there’s a new problem that Cleveland must ultimately address: Collin Murray-Boyles, the Raptors rookie who’s outplaying all other big men.

Here are the takeaways from Toronto’s four-point Game 4 win:

1. Mitchell and Harden are thrilled to leave the country.

To say it wasn’t a fulfilling trip to the North for Mitchell and Harden would be an understatement. For a second straight game in Toronto, the engine of the Cavs couldn’t muster much positive production. And when the Cavs’ starting backcourt has issues, the Cavs don’t stand much of a chance.

Case in point — the last few minutes of Game 4. Clearly, the Cavs wanted the ball in their hands, and Toronto’s defense recognized as much. The Raptors began trapping them and ignoring the other Cavs, daring Mitchell and Harden to let someone else be the hero. This resulted in a key forced turnover by Jamal Shead in the final minute; Mitchell lost the ball as a result and the resulting free throws by Barnes after being fouled put Toronto up for good.

“[Jamal] being able to make that read and having the clock awareness in that split second shows how smart he is,” said Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic.

In the two games in Toronto, Mitchell shot 13-for-39 and Harden 11-for-27. Mitchell had only eight points in the first three quarters Sunday. Harden also seemed rattled at times Sunday, with seven turnovers compared to just six field goals; he has had more turnovers than field goals for two straight games. And down the stretch of Game 4, they took heavily contested shots; there would be no free looks for them.

“They just didn’t fall,” said Mitchell.

Other than a 3-pointer by Sam Merrill, and only because Harden frantically looked for someone with the shot clock winding down, nobody else on the Cavs had a key possession late. It’s a formula that usually works for Cleveland, and a sensible one as well given the reputations and proven results of those two stars, but Toronto was better prepared for it Sunday.

“We’ve had leads and we’ve had opportunities to go up and we just didn’t do it,” Harden said. “It’s not like they’re doing something crazy.”

2. Murray-Boyles is manning up

CMB is the first Raptors rookie to score double digit points in four consecutive post-season games 🔥

15 PTS | 10 REB | 3 AST

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 26, 2026

A game that wasn’t pretty required someone to do the dirty work to help clean up. And what better job description for Murray-Boyles? He did much heavy lifting and earned a spot on the floor in a close game, because he factored in winning.

Murray-Boyles’ best contribution was offensive rebounds. Five of his 10 rebounds were on the offensive end, and they kept possessions alive. This was crucial, because in a game of so many missed shots, the Raptors could use as many looks at the basket as possible.

For a rookie in his first taste of the playoffs, Murray-Boyles is ignoring pressure and refusing to be intimidated by the scene. He’s outplaying Jarrett Allen and even Evan Mobley, a pair of Cleveland front-liners who bring far more experience and accomplishments. Therefore, his 15 points (by comparison, Mobley and Allen combined for 11 points), 10 rebounds and two steals, was exactly what Toronto needed in a game like this.

“I’m just cherishing the moment,” he said. “It makes me smile, just being a part of this.”

3. Beam Scottie up

The medal for best-player-on-the-floor goes to Scottie Barnes. He played such a splendid all-around game and was seemingly everywhere the Cavs needed him to be. The performance he gave was standard for him. Barnes made shots, went to the free-throw line, delivered the ball when necessary, helped on the glass, helped on defense. An ace of all trades in Game 4.

ALL TIED UP! @Raptors will seek a 3-2 series lead in Cleveland on Wednesday 🍿

— NBA (@NBA) April 26, 2026

This is the best way for the Raptors to assume the lead in this series or even win it, to have Barnes stand out on a floor shared with Mitchell and Harden. With the Raptors getting mixed results from RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram, his offense is crucial. And with the Raptors fairly undersized against the Cavs, his work in the post at both ends is needed.

All told, Barnes was good for 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three blocks. In a game like this, those were winning numbers.

4. Offense took a back seat

Was Game 4 a case of cold shooting or better defense? Perhaps a bit of both, because the Cavs and Raptors conspired to dial back the offense to historical levels. Their combined 74 points represented the fewest first-half points in a playoff game in 10 years. The teams also combined to shoot 7-for-39 from deep for the half. It was rough all around and nobody was spared, All-Stars and role players.

As the fourth quarter began, the Raptors sat on 60 points while the Cavs, with 57, couldn’t even muster that much. In these situations, possessions suddenly become crucial, because every point tends to matter that much more. And that’s how the Raptors came out ahead.

Suddenly, it didn’t matter that Ingram once again was inefficient, needing 23 shots to score 23 points. Or that Shead, who was terrific defensively, missed five of his six shots. Or that Ja’Kobe Walter, the replacement for injured starting guard Immanuel Quickley, went 0-for-9. What matters is 2-2. That’s where the series stands right now, heading back to Cleveland for the pivotal Game 5 (Wednesday, TBD).

“This seems like a typical playoff series, 4 vs. 5, tied 2-2,” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. “They did what they were supposed to do. When you’re at home you’re supposed to win in the playoffs.”

Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at [email protected], find his archive here and follow him on X.

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