Game Recap
The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors in game 5 from Cleveland. The defensive struggles continue for the Cavaliers who gave up 74 points in the first half. The defensive efficiency was better in game 5 than the previous two games Toronto won, but the improvement was still incremental.
In this game, unlike game 4, Cleveland got 65 points from Mitchell, Mobley and Harden. On the Raptors side, offseason acquisition Brandon Ingram was held to a single point in only 11 minutes of game action. Had it not been for Ja’Kobe Walter’s 20 points, three rebounds and two assists, the game might not have been as close as it was.
Cleveland lost the rebounding, fast break points, assists and the free throw categories. However, the Cavaliers shot 50% from three, 53% from the field and scored 28 points of Raptor turnovers en route to their five-point win.
Both teams will travel back to Toronto for a close out game 6. If the Raptors can pull out a victory on Friday May 1, they could force a game seven.
Game Preview
The Cleveland Cavaliers took a convincing 2-0 series lead on the Toronto Raptors. Many national and local media believed the series was over after game 2. Then Toronto went onto win two consecutive games.
In game 4, Toronto held all Cleveland scorers to 20 points or less with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combining for only 39 points on the night. In the first two Cavaliers wins. For Toronto, Scottie Barnes got very little help in those first two games. The big offseason acquisition of Brandon Ingram only scored 24 points over those two games. In games 3 and 4, Ingram is closer to his output expectation scoring 36 points of the last two.
Toronto will need to keep up the physicality. Cleveland doesn’t fair as well against overly physical teams. If the physicality is less and Cleveland can shoot over 40% from the floor, the Cavaliers could end this series quickly. If Toronto can make things difficult, they could stretch this series. The longer this series goes, the worse it is for Cleveland and the better it is for Toronto.
Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers score
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Raptors vs Cavaliers live updates, highlights from Game 5 of NBA playoffs
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Toronto Raptors 125-120. Cleveland takes a 3-2 series lead.
Final Team StatsTORCLEFG44-9543-81Field Goal %46533PT15-3818-36Three Point %3950FT17-2521-28Free Throw %6875Rebounds4835Offensive Rebounds154Defensive Rebounds3331Assists3220Steals88Blocks78Total Turnovers1515Points Conceded Off Turnovers2028Fast Break Points246Points in Paint4848Fouls2116Technical Fouls00Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead1211Percent Led5835
CAVS TAKE DOWN THE RAPTORS, 125-120, TO TAKE A 3-2 SERIES LEAD 💪
The home team has won every game so far 👀 pic.twitter.com/g9e5WZ5Pd7
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 30, 2026
0:00-4th: Evan Mobley throws a deep inbounds pass to Dennis Schroder who runs out the clock.
0:02-4th: Jamison Battle missed a tip in. Evan Mobley rebound, he was immediately fouled.
0:18-4th: Toronto calls a timeout.
0:22-4th: Collin Murray-Boyles makes a tip in dunk. Raptors are down by 4.
1:40-4th: Cleveland calls a timeout.
3:18-3rd: Jamison Battle makes a 24-point three-point shot.
3:32-4th: Ja’Kobe Walter makes 23-foot three point jumper.
4:48-4th: Jarrett Allen makes finger roll layup.
5:32-4th: Dennis Schroder makes 26-foot three-point shot.
6:21-4th: Jamal Shead makes a 24-foot three-point shot to cut the lead to 2.
Jamal Shead comes up clutch again, cutting the Cavs’ lead to two 🫡 pic.twitter.com/hGDjxkNHdc
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2026
6:58-4th: Jamison Battle makes an alley oop layup.
7:29-4th: Jamison Battle makes a 9-foot pull up jumper.
10:21-4th: Jaylon Tyson and Evan Mobley make consecutive threes to extend to an 11-0 run.
Toronto leads Cleveland 103-100 at the end of the third quarter
0:02-3rd: Evan Mobley scored 5 points in thirty seconds to close out the half.
2:27-3rd: Sandro Mamukelashvili makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
3:48-3rd: Donovan Mitchell makes a running layup, cutting the Raptor lead to +2.
Spida feeding off the crowd in Cleveland as the Cavs battle back 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/fqUk8aXb4Z
— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2026
5:20-3rd: James Harden makes a 24-foot three-point shot
6:59-3rd: Jamal Shead and RJ Barrett cap off a 7-0 run.
8:22-3rd: Jamal Shead makes a 5-foot floater. Toronto maintains a 4-point lead.
10:50-3rd: Donovan Mitchel make a 5-foot floater after RJ Barrett hit four free throws on two consecutive possessions.
11:01-3rd: Donovan Mitchell makes a 1-foot dunk.
Spida slam 💥
Mobley slam 💥
8-0 Cavs run cutting the deficit in Game 5! pic.twitter.com/UyeGWznRP8
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 20261st Half Team StatsTORCLEFG29-4521-42Field Goal %64503PT10-1711-22Three Point %5950FT6-1014-16Free Throw %6088Rebounds2015Offensive Rebounds53Defensive Rebounds1512Assists2110Steals65Blocks52Total Turnovers710Points Conceded Off Turnovers823Fast Break Points172Points in Paint3020Fouls127Technical Fouls00Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead126Percent Led6128
Raptors up at halftime in Game 5 on ESPN 👀
Who’s heading to Toronto with the series advantage? pic.twitter.com/tQ64q9rDAM
— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2026
Toronto leads Cleveland 74-67 at the half.
0:17-2nd: Jamison Battle fouled Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell hit both free throws.
1:21-2nd: Ja’Kobe Walter makes a 32-foot three-point shot capping a current 7-0 run. Raptors retake the lead 74-65
3:18-2nd: James Harden makes a 24-foot three-point shot.
4:28-2nd: Ja’Kobe Walter makes a 1-foot dunk. Toronto has taken a 62-56 lead.
5:36-2nd: Sandro Mamukelashivili was fouled and made both free throws. Toronto has tied the game at 54.
7:32-2nd: Evan Mobley hits a pair of free throws extending his stat line to seven points and four rebounds.
8:26-1st: Jaylon Tyson (CLE) and Jamal Shead (TOR) exchange 23 and 24-foot three-point shots respectively.
10:08-2nd: RJ Barrett makes a driving layup. Toronto is narrowing the lead, but still down 44-42.
Cavaliers lead the Raptors 38-34
0:00-1st: Donovan Mitchell makes a 38-foot buzzer beater three-point shot. Cleveland leads Toronto 38-34 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Donovan Mitchell beats the 1Q buzzer and hits the spida celly 🕸️
Raptors-Cavs Game 5 on ESPN and the ESPN App 👀 pic.twitter.com/eZXGVvvFqK
— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2026
0:47-1st: James Harden makes 23-foot three-point shot. That includes six points from Harden in their current run.
Cleveland is on a 7-0 run since the 6:36 mark of the first quarter.
Toronto leads Cleveland in the turnover margin 10 to 4.
3:33-1st: Dean Wade entered the game after Merrill’s run and made a 24-foot three-point shot tying the game at 24.
5:35-1st: Sam Merrill hit a 22-foot three-point shot. In only two minutes, Merrill contributes 5 points (1-1 from three) and an assist. Toronto leads 22-17.
6:24-1st: Ja’Kobe Walter makes a 25-foot three-point shot. After a series of missed shots by Cleveland, Toronto extends the lead to 22-11. Cleveland has subbed in Sam Merrill.
8:27-1st: It continues to be the Barnes and Barrett show early for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes makes a 17-foot pullup shot extending the Raptors lead. Both Raptors are shooting a combined 80% from the floor.
9:55-1st: James Harden makes a 32-foot three pointer. Harden is the only Cavalier who has scored from the field.
10:40-1st: Until a James Harden drive in the paint, Toronto held Cleveland scoreless for the first five minutes.
Max Struss, a guard, will get the start for Cleveland at Small Forward. Dean Wade will see rotational game action.
Pregame impressions from Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 5
“I love playoff basketball, that’s what my game is built for.” 😤
RJ Barrett joins Inside the NBA to talk about what it’s like representing Canada in the NBA Playoffs 👏 pic.twitter.com/at3pyw71jN
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 29, 2026
“Game 5, let em know!” 🗣️@spidadmitchell is fired up as the Cavs seek a 3-2 lead🕷️
Game 5: 7:30 PM ET, ESPN pic.twitter.com/Ce467Di7ib
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026
GAME 5 LOADING 🔒 pic.twitter.com/uORz3XCphm
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 29, 2026 How to Watch Toronto Raptors (2-2) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2) Game 5 NBA PlayoffsWednesday, April 29Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Series tied 2-2
Raptors vs. Cavaliers Game 5 will be broadcast by ABC on ESPN and will stream live on the ESPN app.
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