RJ Barrett’s overtime winner forced a Game 7 in Cleveland, and Donovan Mitchell said the Cavs must protect home court.
A shocking overtime winner turned the Raptors’ Game 6 into a statement, and Donovan Mitchell made it clear he was paying attention.
Toronto held off Cleveland to secure a 112-110 victory in overtime, forcing a do-or-die Game 7 back in Cleveland.. The swing moment arrived late when RJ Barrett launched a three-pointer that caromed off the back iron and dropped cleanly after a dramatic bounce. giving the Raptors the lead with just 1.2 seconds remaining.
For Mitchell, the reaction was blunt and instant, captured in one word as he reflected on how quickly momentum can flip in the playoffs.
The Cavs responded with a stop on Toronto’s final possession. but it wasn’t enough to avoid the series finale.. Mitchell. who finished Game 6 with 24 points. added five rebounds and two assists while shooting 11-of-26 from the field and 2-of-10 from deep.. He emphasized that the priority is the same regardless of what happens in any single game: protect home court.
That matters because Game 7 rarely turns on one play alone. It is the cumulative habits, execution in high-leverage moments, and how a team responds after disappointment that determine who controls the final stretch.
Meanwhile, Mitchell was asked whether Barrett’s shot reminded him of anything he had seen before. He didn’t connect it to a recent counterpart, but he did point to a similar kind of game-shaping look from Kawhi Leonard during Toronto’s 2019 postseason run.
With the series now set for Sunday night, Game 7 is scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m.. EST, with coverage on NBC and Peacock.. For Cleveland. the immediate task is to build on the scoring Mitchell provided and do so more consistently against a Raptors defense that knows exactly how to set the terms when time is short.
The larger takeaway from Game 6 is simple: in this series, one late shot can erase an entire game plan and reset expectations. If the Cavs are going to close things out at home, they will have to turn that lesson into execution from the opening tip.