Cavaliers Beat Raptors 126-113 in NBA Playoffs Game 1

Sport

By lines

April 19, 2026

Generated Image April 17, 2026 8 39am 2 2

In Cavaliers-Raptors Game 1 on Saturday, Cleveland outlasted Toronto 126-113 at Rocket Arena. Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points. Max Strus added 24 points off the bench, a playoff career high for Strus.

Mitchell’s NBA-Record Streak Drives Cavaliers Past Raptors

Donovan Mitchell’s 32-point game was the ninth straight series opener where Mitchell scored at least 30. No player in NBA history has matched that streak. James Harden recorded 22 points and 10 assists for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Evan Mobley totaled 17 points and 7 rebounds for Cleveland.

Max Strus had missed the first 67 regular-season games with a broken left foot. Strus scored 11 of 24 points during a 27-9 Cleveland scoring run. That run spanned the final 1:11 of the second quarter and the first seven minutes of the third. The Cleveland Cavaliers outscored the Toronto Raptors 36-22 in the third quarter.

Toronto played Game 1 without point guard Immanuel Quickley, who sat out with a mild right hamstring strain. RJ Barrett scored 24 points for the Toronto Raptors. Scottie Barnes added 21 points for Toronto. Jamal Shead started in place of Quickley and recorded 17 points, including five 3-pointers.

The Toronto Raptors made the 2026 postseason for the first time since 2022. Toronto had swept Cleveland 3-0 during the regular season. The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 on Monday night at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.