Cavs Ready to Turn Up the Force in Game 4

One year ago, the Cavaliers cruised through the First Round of the postseason the way they cruised through the regular season – blowing out Miami by an average of 30.5 points per in the four-game sweep. 

Things have been a little more difficult during the 2025-26 regular season, and the scrappy Raptors made the First Round a little more difficult on Thursday night, blowing a tight game open with a 43-point fourth quarter. 

On a broadcast last week, former Cavalier Richard Jefferson stated that the “longest time in the world” is the distance between a playoff loss and the following game. And it’s felt like that in the two days between Thursday’s frustrating defeat and Sunday’s quest for redemption. 

Kenny Atkinson’s squad practiced both Friday and Saturday in preparation for a Game 4 that can really swing the series. A win means the Cavs can close things out at home on Wednesday night; a loss means coming back to Canada next week. 

The Cavs won each of the first two games in the series by double-figures, trailed for all of two of the first 96 minutes and led wire-to-wire in Game 2. But even in defeat, the Raptors have shot better than 50 percent from the floor in all three losses, including a .575 mark in Game 3 – 61 percent from beyond the arc. 

Through the first two games of the series, Toronto was without Immanuel Quickley – who averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 rebounds during the regular season – and the Raptors recently announced that the hamstring injury will keep him out for the remainder of the First Round. In his absence, sophomore guard Jamal Shead was good in Game 1, drilling five triples, was bad in Game 2, and after losing his starting spot for Game 3, bounced back to lead both teams with five steals. 

So far in the series, bench scoring has been close, with Toronto holding a slight edge, outscoring the Cavs second unit, 115-98. But Max Strus – who’s shooting 56 percent from deep through three games – was good again on Thursday night, drilling four bombs and finishing with 15 points. And after a quiet first two games, Jaylon Tyson looked like himself again in Game 3, chipping in with 13 points, four assists and a steal in just 15 minutes of work off the bench. 

One of the coolest moments in an otherwise tough night for the team came in the second quarter. Just as Tyson had splashed home his first triple of the night, his younger brother Jordyn was being drafted with the 8^th overall pick of the NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, Jaylon’s favorite team growing up. 

“I was in the game when he got picked, which I knew was probably going to happen,” said the sophomore swingman. “He went to an organization that’s trying to figure it out, trying to rebuild. I think he’ll go there and be a big culture piece and be part of turning that thing around.”

Offensively, the Cavs would love to see their other key reserves – Sam Merrill, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder – turn it up. Through three games, the trio is shooting a combined 8-of-28 (29 percent) from the floor. 

Thomas Bryant, Cleveland ‘s first big off the bench all season, returned to action on Thursday night after missing the first two games and could see more action as the series progresses. 

Toronto’s bench has been good through all three games, with three Raptors reserves notching double-figures in Game 2 and Collin Murray-Boyles and Jamison Battle combining to go 16-for-20 from the floor in Game 3. Murray-Boyles – the 9^th overall pick out of South Carolina last June – has shot 73 percent (24-of-33) in the series. 

“This is the playoffs – we have to contest them better,” said Coach Kenny Atkinson following Saturday’s practice. “(Toronto) obviously shifted to going to them a little more, so we need to firm up better, contest better, and then match their energy. That kid has got great energy. You have to turn up your energy, turn up your force. That’s the message.”

Cleveland’s starting backcourt was great through the first two games – with Donovan Mitchell topping the 30-point mark in each contest and James Harden averaging 25.0 points and 7.0 assists. But both struggled on Thursday – going a combined 4-for-17 from deep. Mitchell didn’t attempt a free throw all night and Harden was responsible for eight of Cleveland’s 22 turnovers. 

Evan Mobley was also rock-solid through the first two games, shooting 77 percent from the floor, averaging 7.5 boards. But he struggled on Thursday, going 4-of-13 from the floor, missing all four three-point attempts, but still led Cleveland with seven assists to go with a pair of steals and a block. 

Jarrett Allen’s been very efficient offensively – shooting 70 percent in the series – but he hasn’t attempted more than seven shots in any of the three games. Defensively, he’s been excellent with two steals and three blocks in each of his last two outings. 

In terms of Toronto’s starters, as bad as Brandon Ingram’s been – averaging 12.0 points on 39 percent shooting – Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett have been outstanding. In Thursday’s win, they each went off for 33 points, shooting a combined 23-for-36 from the floor, 9-for-13 from beyond the arc. And as good as they were from deep, the duo also did massive damage in the paint, where Toronto held a 60-40 advantage in Game 3. 

“Scottie got into the paint quite a bit, and we can’t have that happen,” said Allen on Saturday afternoon. “I feel like he was dominant every time he stepped foot in the paint. RJ Barrett was incredible getting downhill. We just have to get a hit early and try to stop them from getting in the paint.”

To quote Tom Petty: The waiting’s the hardest part. But the wait is over on Sunday afternoon. And by Sunday evening, we’ll see which way this First Round series is headed.