RJ Barrett delivered the defining moment of the night, hitting a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left in overtime to lift the Toronto Raptors past the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-110 in a pivotal playoff game at Scotiabank Arena.
“Still dream about it,” Barrett said when asked about the clutch moment. “Just want to say one thing, Scottie for making the pass. I said it before, we talked about it right before the play happened. Him having that trust in me to make that pass at that moment was huge. Glory be to God.”
Barrett also explained the chemistry on the final possession and the trust from Scottie Barnes. “That just shows Darko and his trust. I think him seeing the both of us out there with the ball, he was comfortable with that.”
On the decisive shot itself, Barrett described the bounce and his immediate reaction. “I still knew it was good because it went straight up. If it goes straight up, you got a chance. Like that Haliburton shot last year.”
Barrett also referenced the broader context of Toronto’s late-game issues and adjustments throughout the series. “When you start the games better and you’re playing from a lead instead of playing from behind the whole time, it’s a lot easier to win,” he said. “We got to clean up these fourth quarters.”
Looking ahead to Game 7 in Cleveland, Barrett kept the focus on execution and mentality. “Forget everything that’s happened so far. Got one game to decide it all. This group has been tough and resilient.”
He also addressed the atmosphere in Toronto and the growing crowd chants around his name. “No, that’s lit. That’s tough. I like that. I feel like my name is kind of perfect for it. I’ve been enjoying that.”
Barrett credited head coach Darko Rajakovic for late-game confidence and simplified reads. “That one was just kind of him trusting us right there at the end. Just knowing the moment in time.”
He also emphasized preparation and confidence in taking big shots, even after a quiet stretch. “I’ve said it throughout the year. Trust your work. I’m willing to live and die on me taking that shot.”
Barrett reflected on the historical weight of the moment, connecting it to past playoff memories. “I definitely remember that shot. It was crazy,” he said, referencing Kawhi Leonard’s iconic buzzer-beater. “Just to be able to now kind of have a shot like that in history definitely feels pretty good.”
