Dribbles: For Cavs, it all comes down to a game they didn’t want

May 1, 2026

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 112-110 overtime road loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 on Friday.

1. They say that “Game Seven” is the two most wonderful words in sports. I doubt the Cavaliers feel that way today.

2. Fittingly, the Cavs were doomed by a turnover. That’s been their undoing in all three losses. And almost in some of the wins as well.

3. It happened with the Cavs leading by a point and time winding down. Dennis Schroder was pressured at halfcourt and fired a pass to a fairly well-defended Evan Mobley near the sideline. Mobley caught it, briefly, before the ball was slapped off his leg and rolled out of bounds.

4. Raptors ball. What followed … well, you had to see it.

5. If not, just know that Raptors wing RJ Barrett took a highly questionable three from the top of the key. The ball bounced straight up into the air, rose above the shot clock, and looked like it might hit the top of the backboard on the way back down.

6. Instead, it went straight through the hoop. And that, as they say, is the way the ball bounces.

7. The shot was challenged by Mobley. The result of it was no fault of the Cavs. But they sure didn’t help themselves for most of the night.

8. Keep in mind that the Raptors were without injured forward Brandon Ingram, their top scorer during the regular season. Nor have they had injured starting point guard Immanuel Quickley for the entire series.

9. But here we are. Game. Seven. Yuck, the Cavs are likely saying.

10. Mobley was fantastic much of the game, finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds. But aside from a spurt here and there, Donovan Mitchell (24 points) and James Harden (16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists) … well, they’re still not leading the team to greatness.

11. That sounds harsh, because neither was bad. They just didn’t take over. The Cavs and their fans are still waiting for that.

12. The Cavs did manage to overcome a 15-point deficit. They scratched and clawed and forced the Raptors to play at their pace. But the things they did (or failed to do) before that left the outcome … well, up to chance.

13. Toronto scored just 12 points in the fourth quarter, and the Cavs still failed to secure a road game. They’ve won just four of the past 15 away from home in the playoffs.

14. Kenny Atkinson to reporters: “This is why you fight so hard to get home-court advantage. We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. This is the playoffs, this is what it’s about. We’ve got to recover and get ready for Sunday’s game.”

15. Luckily for the Cavs, the Pistons overcame a 24-point deficit in Orlando on Friday to win by 14. So should the Cavs advance (and that’s no guarantee), their second-round opponent will be in the same spot. Specificially, also coming off a Game 7.

16. For the record, Game 1 of the second round in Tuesday. Will the Cavs be there? Yes, if they play like they did in the fourth quarter for most of Sunday’s game in Cleveland.

17. But not if they still don’t improve in those all-important areas of the intangibles.

Evan Mobley & Donovan Mitchell Postgame After Game 6 Loss vs Raptors:

“[0:10, Mobley Turnover With 10 Seconds] They hit the ball out & I felt like it was our ball. They called it different. That’s was that—[0:49] Protect home court. It doesn’t matter if we lost by 30, 2. Protect… pic.twitter.com/PqtABPioXz

— Dylan🔮🎆 (@dillybar2145__) May 2, 2026

18. They did a much better job on the glass in this one, outrebounding Toronto by a 52-38 count. That’s part of the reason they were able to get back in it. They also were better in the turnover department, though the 18 they coughed up here will still be too many for a Game 7.

19. Jarrett Allen played his best game of the postseason, finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds. But his 2-of-6 shooting on free throws sure didn’t help. Overall, the Cavs were 19-of-27 from the line. That proved costly.

20. Barrett finished with 25 points, and Scottie Barnes and Ja’Kobe Walter added 24 apiece. The Cavs have to find a way to slow down Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles. It’s inexcusable to let two young players go off as they have been.

21. Dean Wade added 10 points and five rebounds. He was a plus-10. It turned out not to matter much, but it sure could during a deciding game.

22. So do I think the Cavs will win on Sunday? I’m leaning that way. That said, I’ve found that my gut means nothing. The Cavs’ grit will mean a lot more.

23. Mitchell: “Protect home court. Doesn’t matter if they won by 30, (or) two. Protect home court. That’s all we can do.”