By Chris Robinson
The Cleveland Cavaliers wasted no time erasing the ghosts of the regular season.
After being swept by Toronto 3-0 during the regular season — with double-digit losses in each matchup — Cleveland flipped the script in emphatic fashion, opening their 2026 NBA Playoffs first-round series with a dominant 126-113 victory over the Raptors.
The message was clear: what happened before April doesn’t matter anymore.
Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 32 points, while Max Strus delivered a standout performance off the bench with 24 points to power Cleveland’s balanced attack. Mitchell took 20 shots on his way to his 32-point night, while James Harden was equally impactful — racking up 10 assists alongside 22 points , showing just why the midseason trade for the veteran guard has paid dividends.
“He was focused,” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. “I liked how downhill he was. He was locked in at getting to the rim and made some really good decisions kicking it to our shooters.”
The Cavaliers made the bold decision two months ago to part ways with Darius Garland, swapping him for Harden — a far superior passer whose playmaking has quickly gelled with Mitchell and the rest of the roster. That chemistry was on full display Saturday, with Harden’s court vision repeatedly putting teammates in position for easy buckets.
Toronto came in with momentum and confidence. Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and RJ Barrett were expected to collectively carry the load for the Raptors , but they couldn’t keep pace with Cleveland’s firepower over four quarters. Barnes was active early, knocking down a pair of quick three-pointers to give Toronto an early lead , but the Cavaliers steadily pulled away.
With sparse few exceptions in the first half, the Cavs ruled and rolled throughout, punishing the Raptors by exposing their tendency to make mistakes.
After a hesitant start to the season, Cleveland straightened out with a 23-9 streak after the trade deadline, with the arrivals of Harden, Dennis Schröder, and Keon Ellis transforming the team’s dynamics. That retooled roster now looks every bit like a legitimate playoff contender.
*** Photo courtesy of Donovan Mitchell
Chris Robinson can be reached at crobinson@hustleboss.com