Raptors vs Cavaliers Preview: Battle for a Final Showdown

Imagine the biggest game of the season: winner advances, loser goes home. That's what Sunday brings when the Toronto Raptors host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7, with the series tied three games each. The Raptors surprised everyone this season by becoming a playoff contender despite questions about their direction. Meanwhile, Cleveland looks dangerous after adding James Harden at the trade deadline. One team will celebrate moving forward. The other will pack up for the offseason. This single game determines everything.

The Raptors built their identity on length, versatility, and defense. Scottie Barnes leads the way, doing everything well: scoring about nineteen points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing five assists per game. Brandon Ingram brings the scoring punch at nearly twenty-two points nightly. However, Ingram is questionable for Sunday with an injury, which could hurt Toronto's offense. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley add scoring and playmaking from the wings. Jakob Poeltl anchors the middle with his size and strength. Without Ingram, Toronto loses firepower against Cleveland's powerful lineup.

Donovan Mitchell remains Cleveland's franchise cornerstone, averaging about thirty points per game. When the Cavaliers acquired James Harden, everything changed. Harden's elite playmaking and scoring gravity freed up Mitchell to attack more efficiently. Their pick-and-roll partnership with Evan Mobley unlocks constant alley-oops and easy finishes. Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, averages nineteen points and supplies elite rim protection. Cleveland also added Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis off the bench for extra speed and pressure defense. This roster looks like the most dangerous team Cleveland's fielded since LeBron's era.