Key Takeaways:
- Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and James Harden added 28 in the Cavaliers’ 115-105 win over the Raptors
- Cleveland extended their playoff winning streak against Toronto to 12 games, matching the NBA record for consecutive postseason victories over a single opponent
- The series will continue on Thursday night with Game 3 in Toronto
Match Overview
The Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 115-105 triumph over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, moving ahead 2-0 in their Eastern Conference first-round clash. Donovan Mitchell contributed a team-high 30 points, while James Harden posted 28 points as well as four assists and five steals, bolstering Cleveland’s commanding postseason performance.
That's a 2-0 series lead!
📊 HIGHLIGHTS & STATS: https://t.co/kCXhW0RPZe@Redfin | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/M2TCUhpx8Z
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 21, 2026
Cleveland’s Balanced Attack
Evan Mobley also had a significant impact, registering 25 points and eight rebounds. It marked the second consecutive postseason in which at least three Cavaliers scored 25 points or more in a game, and only the fourth time in franchise history this has occurred.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson praised his side’s composure against a variety of defensive tactics from Toronto, stating, “They threw the kitchen sink at us, gave us a lot of different looks and (we) kept our poise. Donovan and James closed it for us, but I thought our defense kind of forced them to go small. This is what the playoffs are about. They came at us hard and we responded.”
Historical Streaks and Milestones
Cleveland’s latest result extended their streak of playoff victories against the Raptors to 12 matches, equalling the NBA postseason record for most consecutive wins against a single team. This run began during the 2016 Eastern Conference finals and includes a pair of four-game sweeps over Toronto in the 2017 and 2018 second rounds. The Cavaliers have achieved similar streaks against Detroit and Atlanta, while the Los Angeles Lakers previously set such a 12-game mark versus Seattle between 1980 and 1989.
| Top Cavaliers Performers | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | 30 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| James Harden | 28 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Evan Mobley | 25 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
Toronto’s Response and Key Statistics
For Toronto, Scottie Barnes topped his personal best in the playoffs, supplying 26 points, with RJ Barrett adding 22 points and gathering nine rebounds. The Raptors improved their transition game, recording 16 fast-break points after managing just three in their previous match. However, their 22 turnovers – a season-high – led directly to 22 points for the Cavaliers.
Reflecting on the result, Barnes said, “The only time the game got away was when we made a lot of turnovers. We played super hard, we adjusted to how the game was going, and did certain things that helped us.”
Turning Points and Looking Ahead
Although Toronto cut the deficit to 99-90 in the fourth quarter with a driving layup by Barnes, Mitchell responded with seven uninterrupted points to decisively extend Cleveland’s lead. Earlier, the Cavaliers held a 73-57 advantage in the third quarter before the Raptors mounted a 16-6 run, but could not sustain the momentum.
Harden’s four assists in the match propelled him to seventh place on the NBA’s all-time playoff assists list with 1,139, and he achieved five steals in a playoff game for the fourth time in his career.
Next Up
The Eastern Conference series now shifts to Toronto, where Game 3 will take place on Thursday night as the Raptors aim to respond on home court.
