Cleveland guard scores 32 points to set an NBA record with his ninth straight 30-point series opener
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 126-113 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series Today at Rocket Arena. Cleveland leads the series 1-0. Game 2 is scheduled for Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m. ET on Peacock in Cleveland.
How the game was won
Cleveland controlled the game from the second quarter onward, but the decisive stretch came at the end of the first half and the opening minutes of the third. With the Raptors pulling to within four points at 45-41, the Cavaliers responded with a 27-9 run that effectively ended the contest. Max Strus was the primary driver of that burst, scoring 11 points during the spurt and hitting all three of his three-point attempts. Cleveland shot 10 of 16 from the field during that stretch, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.
The Cavaliers outscored Toronto in each of the first three quarters, 35-31 in the first, 26-23 in the second, and 36-22 in a dominant third. Their largest lead reached 24 points midway through the fourth quarter. Cleveland emptied the bench with just over two minutes remaining.
The record Mitchell just set
Donovan Mitchell finished with a game-high 32 points and extended a streak that now stands alone in NBA history. He has scored at least 30 points in nine consecutive series-opening games, surpassing Michael Jordan, who held the previous mark with two separate streaks of seven. Mitchell was efficient and assertive throughout, adding four assists and keeping his foot on the gas in the fourth quarter when Toronto briefly showed signs of life.
James Harden delivered a complete performance in his first playoff game as a Cavalier, finishing with 22 points and 10 assists. He was Cleveland’s most effective offensive creator in the first half, directing the offense and connecting with teammates consistently. Evan Mobley added 17 points and seven rebounds, and Jarrett Allen contributed 10 points and seven rebounds while playing through right knee tendinitis that will be worth monitoring across the series.
Strus finished with 24 points off the bench on 7 of 8 shooting from the floor, including three three-pointers. He was arguably the most impactful player on the floor for extended stretches and gave Cleveland’s perimeter attack a dimension Toronto struggled to contain.
Toronto’s effort without Quickley
The Raptors played their first playoff game since 2022 without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley, who was ruled out before tip-off with a mild right hamstring strain. Jamal Shead started in his place and performed admirably, finishing with 17 points including five three-pointers.
RJ Barrett led Toronto with 24 points and Scottie Barnes added 21. Brandon Ingram scored 17 but the Raptors could not sustain their best offensive moments long enough to threaten Cleveland’s lead after the second quarter. Toronto’s normally active fast-break offense was largely neutralized, generating just one transition point in the first half.
Barnes picked up two early fouls and had to sit for extended stretches in the first quarter, which disrupted the Raptors’ offensive rhythm at a time when they needed to establish themselves.
Series schedule
Game 3 moves to Toronto on Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Game 4 is Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN. Games 5 through 7 are scheduled as needed.
The Cavaliers enter this postseason having lost in the second round in each of the past two seasons. The Cavaliers went 0-3 against Toronto during the regular season, but all three of those matchups came before the February trade that brought Harden to Cleveland. Their Game 1 performance gave the organization its clearest evidence yet that the move was the right one.