RJ Barrett’s 25-Point Masterclass Propels Raptors to Game 1 Rout of Cavaliers

RJ Barrett is wasting no time making his mark on the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The 23-year-old Canadian poured in 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting in Toronto’s opening-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, flashing the slashing attacks and fearless rim pressure that defined his late-season surge with the Raptors. Yet Barrett insists Game 1 was only a “feel-out” session for a Toronto roster featuring nine players with fewer than 10 postseason appearances. “We just needed to get one playoff game under our belts,” he told reporters after Monday’s practice, adding that the group now understands the Cavaliers’ physicality and pace. Key areas of focus heading into tonight’s Game 2 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse: 1. Faster starts Toronto trailed by 11 after one quarter on Saturday, forcing Barrett and Scottie Barnes to play catch-up possessions that stalled the offense. Expect head coach Darko Rajaković to feature early pick-and-rolls that free Barrett’s left hand and collapse Cleveland’s help defense. 2. Perimeter containment Donovan Mitchell erupted for 32 points in the opener, many coming when Barrett switched onto the All-Star in late-clock scenarios. Barrett emphasized “being tighter on the first dribble” and funneling Mitchell toward seven-footer Jakob Poeltl instead of conceding pull-up threes. 3. Bench shot creation The Raptors’ reserves managed just 18 points in Game 1. Rajaković hinted at extending Barrett’s minutes with the second unit, a move that could keep a downhill driver on the floor at all times and relieve Barnes of constant initiation duties. Barrett’s confidence is buoyed by his own postseason track record. The former No. 3 pick averaged 19.7 points in last year’s playoffs with New York before being dealt to his hometown team in December. Since the All-Star break he’s shooting 38 % from deep and 61 % at the rim, transforming Toronto’s half-court identity from three-heavy to rim-oriented attacks. That aggression drew nine free-throw attempts in Game 1, a number Barrett wants to push “into double digits” to quiet Cleveland’s crowd early. If the Raptors even the series, Barrett will be a central reason. His combination of Canadian star power, playoff seasoning and evolving efficiency gives Toronto a blueprint for stealing home-court advantage before the series shifts north. As Winnipeg Sun columnist Joe Reedy noted, Barrett’s 24 points “kept the Raptors afloat” despite a collective 6-for-25 night from beyond the arc, underscoring how vital his drives and foul-drawing will be as the Cavaliers adjust their coverage. Tip-off for Game 2 is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with Barrett poised to headline another chapter in Canada’s growing playoff story.