Scottie Barnes calmly sank the go-ahead free throws in the final minute, Brandon Ingram matched him with a team-high 23 points, and the Toronto Raptors outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 93-89 in a bruising Game 4 at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, April 26, 2026. The win knots the first‑round series at two games apiece and flips the pressure back on Cleveland after a finish filled with Cavs turnovers and empty trips. With the matchup headed back to Ohio, Wednesday’s Game 5 suddenly looks like a hinge point for both teams.
Barnes, Ingram come up big on rough shooting night
According to The Associated Press, Barnes and Ingram each finished with 23 points, RJ Barrett chipped in 18, and Collin Murray‑Boyles posted 15 points and 10 rebounds as Toronto survived a brutal night from beyond the arc. The Raptors went just 4-for-30 from 3-point range yet still clawed back late. Barnes was fouled on a drive with 34 seconds remaining and calmly buried both free throws, giving Toronto a lead it never gave back. The final score said defensive rock fight more than offensive showcase, with both sides grinding through a playoff‑style slog.
Turnovers and late misses sink Cavs
Game play-by-play data and the box score show just how costly Cleveland’s miscues were: the Cavaliers committed 18 turnovers and were outscored 10-2 over the final 1:54, a decisive stretch they could not overcome, according to CBS Sports. Donovan Mitchell scored 20 points, with 12 coming in the fourth quarter, and James Harden added 19, but Mitchell missed two shots in the last 25 seconds, including a 3-pointer that would have tied it. Jarrett Allen pulled down 15 rebounds and Sam Merrill added 14 points, yet Cleveland had no answer for Toronto’s closing surge when it mattered most.
Series shifts back to Cleveland for pivotal Game 5
The best‑of‑seven now moves to Cleveland for Game 5 on Wednesday, a swing game that could dictate who seizes control before the series’ middle stretch, according to the NBA’s game notes and live updates. With home court flipping again, Cleveland’s interior defense and overall ball security jump to the top of the watch list after Sunday’s turnover problems. Both teams get only a short window to regroup and adjust before the midweek showdown.
Photos and moments that told the story
Cleveland.com captured a series of defining images from Toronto, including an Evan Mobley dunk and Courtney‑level hustle plays, with photography credited to Frank Gunn and Nathan Denette, among others. The gallery underscores the game’s physical tone and highlights sequences that do not always stand out in the box score. For local fans, those shots help explain why a 93-89 final felt so tense from tip to buzzer.
Looking ahead to Game 5, Cleveland has to tighten up its handle and manufacture cleaner looks for Mitchell and Harden, while Toronto is poised to lean again on Barnes’ two-way versatility and Ingram’s skill inside the arc, per postgame notes at CBS Sports. Wednesday’s matchup at Rocket Arena is now appointment viewing for Cavs fans, who will find out whether Cleveland can wrest back control of the series or whether Toronto’s late-game edge travels south to Ohio.
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