Cavaliers beat Raptors with 83 three-pointers and take 2-0 lead in NBA playoffs

Cleveland Cavaliers took an important step towards qualifying for the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Ohio team beat Toronto Raptors 115 to 105 on Monday night, playing at Rocket Arena. With the positive result at home, Cavaliers now lead the series 2-0. The dominance was built by the offensive efficiency of their main names, who neutralized the Canadian team’s attempts to react during the four periods of play.

The victory was consolidated by the statistical performance of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley. The three players combined for 83 points, representing nearly 75% of the team’s total score for the match. Mitchell led the group with 30 points, demonstrating precision in mid-range shots and aggressive infiltrations. James Harden contributed 28 points, while Mobley rounded out the top trio with 25 units. Essa concentrated offensive strength prevented Toronto Raptors from managing to balance the score in the final stretch of the match.

2-0. #LETEMKNOW pic.twitter.com/nZ8spJAvFQ

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 21, 2026

Trio of Cleveland sets the pace of the match at home

Cavaliers’s strategy focused on ball circulation to find their scorers in favorable conditions. Donovan Mitchell started the game with high intensity, converting important baskets in the first quarter. James Harden acted as an organizer and finisher, taking advantage of gaps in Raptors’s perimeter defense. Evan Mobley was fundamental in the paint, converting shots close to the basket and ensuring game volume for the home team.

Abaixo, the numbers that explain the dominance of the Ohio trio in game 2:

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• Donovan Mitchell:30 points and leadership in converted shots.
• James Harden:28 points and control of the offensive rhythm in the second half.
• Evan Mobley:25 points with high usage within the painted area.
• Produção combined:83 points of the 115 total points scored by the team.

Os Raptors tried to respond with Scottie Barnes, who scored 26 points, and RJ Barrett, responsible for 22. Sandro Mamukelashvili helped control rebounds, adding 10 recoveries, but the team found it difficult to contain the hosts’ momentum. The Toronto team now needs to reverse the situation in the next two games, which will be played on Canadian territory. Game 3 is scheduled for this Thursday, at 9pm, on Canadá, where Raptors will try to reduce their deficit in the series.

Desafios defensive and next steps in the series

The Cavaliers coach prioritized a compact defense to limit his rival’s long-distance shots. Durante the third quarter, Cleveland managed to open a comfortable margin of 12 points, which allowed for more relaxed time management in the last period. Mesmo with the pressure exerted by Barnes in the final minutes, Harden’s experience at the free throw line was decisive in maintaining the lead. The team travels to Toronto with the possibility of closing the series if they win the next two clashes away from home.

Evan Mobley’s consistency on defense also received internal praise after the match. The player managed to contest important shots and limit Barrett’s effectiveness at critical moments of the contest. The Cleveland technical committee assesses that maintaining this defensive intensity will be the key to facing the hostile environment at Canadá. Os Raptors, on the other hand, needs to adjust the marking on Mitchell, who has been finding it easy to infiltrate since the first game in the series.

Hawks surprise Knicks at Madison Square Garden

Enquanto Cavaliers celebrated their second victory, the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was tense for the local fans. Atlanta Hawks beat New York Knicks 107 to 106 in a final game decided in the details. With this result, the series is tied at 1-1, removing the New York team’s home field advantage. The confrontation was balanced from start to finish, with constant alternations in the lead and a strong physical presence on both sides.

The series draw forces Knicks to look for a win on Atlanta to regain the advantage. Game 3 between the two teams also takes place this Thursday, at 8pm, on State Farm Arena. Hawks’s victory demonstrates Conferência Leste’s competitiveness in these playoffs, where favorites face difficulties against resilient squads. Expectations now revolve around the tactical adjustments that the teams will make for the weekend’s decisive clashes.