The Toronto Raptors avoided elimination as they survived the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 to force Game 8 in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Friday night.
Scottie Barnes tallied 25 points and 14 assists to lead the Raptors, while RJ Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter both scored 24 points, and Collin Murray-Boyles added 17.
RJ Barrett sank a triple with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime, and Toronto held on after blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth.
The home team has won all six games so far in the series.
On the other hand, Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 26 points and 14 rebounds, Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, and James Harden had 16 for the Cavaliers. Jarrett Allen scored 14 points, and Dean Wade added 10.
Mobley had a chance to win it for the Cavaliers, but his triple bounced off the front of the rim.
Harden shot 5 for 14 and 1 for 4 from three, and finished with nine rebounds and nine assists, but also made four turnovers.
Cleveland finished with 18 turnovers, leading to 25 points for Toronto.
Toronto also held a big edge in fast-break points, outscoring the Cavaliers 20-6.
Barnes had 14 points and 10 assists by halftime, making him the eighth NBA player since 1997 with 14 or more points and 10 or more assists in one half of a playoff game.
Meanwhile, Raptors forward Brandon Ingram did not play because of a sore right heel after leaving in the second quarter of Wednesday’s 125-120 loss at Cleveland.
Game 7 is in Cleveland on Sunday.
