Barrett banks 3-pointer at buzzer to force Raptors-Cavs Game 7

Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett hit a 3-pointer off the back rim with 1.2 seconds left to lift his team to a 112-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of their first-round NBA playoff series on May 1, 2026, at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors trailed 110-109 with 10.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Barrett inbounded to Scottie Barnes, received a return pass at the top of the key and launched the shot, which bounced nearly seven feet high before dropping through the net.

Cleveland's Evan Mobley missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic described the moment as feeling like an eternity despite lasting half a second. Barrett noted the shot's straight trajectory off the rim gave it a chance to fall.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson called it a case of the basketball gods not favoring his team. The sequence recalled Kawhi Leonard's four-bounce buzzer-beater that eliminated Philadelphia in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Game 7 is set for Sunday at Cleveland, where the Cavaliers hold home-court advantage. Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell stressed protecting home court regardless of the margin.