While the scoreboard suggested a routine win, the real story of Game 2 unfolded in the tension, missed calls, and mounting frustration on the Toronto sideline. The Cleveland Cavaliers seized control late to beat the Toronto Raptors 115–105, leaning on a three-headed scoring attack that never let up.
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Behind the headline numbers from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, the game turned on smaller, emotional moments- none bigger than Darko Rajakovic’s visible frustration and Brandon Ingram’s continued struggles. The Raptors coach bristled at officiating, while his All-Star forward searched for answers on a night where little went right.
Moments you missed from the Cavaliers-Raptors Game 2
Raptors coach backs Ingram while clashing with officials
Ingram was the regular-season scoring leader with 21.5 points per game in 77 games played. But in Game 1, the 28-year-old had just 17 points, and in Game 2, his performance worsened. Ingram scored just 7 points on 3-15 shooting and also went just 1-3 from the free-throw line.
That lack of trips to the line became a flashpoint on the sideline, and part of a broader, familiar playoff theme. Coaches across the league, from Steve Kerr to Erik Spoelstra, have publicly questioned officiating in recent postseasons, often walking a fine line that can lead to league fines or warnings. Rajakovic’s outburst fits squarely within that playoff-stakes pattern, where every whistle feels magnified.
“Their whole team is very, very physical with Brandon. So, for me, it’s very interesting that he had 0 free throws in this game. Seeing zero takes, zero makes, it’s interesting.”
Rajakovic wasn’t alone in feeling this way. Toronto forward RJ Barrett echoed a similar sentiment.
“I don’t know what to say on that one without getting fined,” Barrett said. “I’m not going to say anything. Physicality or not, something has to be a foul at some point.”
Darko Rajakovic: "Their whole team is very very physical with Brandon. So for me it's very interesting that he had 0 free throws in this game. Seeing zero takes, zero makes, it's interesting"
His frustration with the officiating boiled over again in the second frame when Harden dropped Scottie Barnes with a sharp crossover. Barnes hit the floor looking for an offensive foul, but play continued, and Harden buried the jumper- fueling even more outrage from the Raptors bench. Debate lingered over whether the move included a push-off, but the no-call stood.
Brandon Ingram’s shooting woes continue
After game 1, Ingram took a shot at his head coach’s tactics. “Coach wanted to use me as a screener. He noticed that my man wasn’t coming off of me. He wanted me outside of the action a little bit, and being a receiver. At the end of the day, me shooting 9 shots is not going to win basketball games.”
Instead of responding with a breakout performance, Ingram’s struggles deepened. He went scoreless in the first half, missing all six of his attempts and committing three turnovers.
In fact, his final stat line was seven points on 3-of-15 shooting and five turnovers. Even so, Rajakovic made it clear postgame that his confidence in Ingram hasn’t wavered.
“Brandon is a very important player for us,” said Rajakovic after Toronto’s loss. “The ball did not go in tonight. We need him to continue to be aggressive shooting. I got absolute support for him. He’s going to make his shots.”
History suggests that early-series slumps for star players don’t always define the outcome. Jayson Tatum, for instance, struggled with efficiency in the opening games of multiple playoff series early in his career before bouncing back with explosive scoring nights later in the same matchups.
On the flip side, players like Julius Randle have seen early postseason struggles linger, impacting their team’s ceiling. That contrast stresses the pressure now facing Ingram- whether this is a temporary dip or a defining trend.
With Immanuel Quickley still sidelined, Toronto desperately needs that belief to translate into production.
Barrett and Barnes have carried stretches of the offense, but without Ingram finding rhythm, the Raptors’ ceiling in this series remains limited.
James Harden climbs the list of NBA greats as Donovan Mitchell leads the playoff charge
Cleveland’s backcourt once again dictated the pace. Mitchell controlled the tempo with 30 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Harden delivered an ultra-efficient 28-point outing on 9-of-14 shooting. Together, they overwhelmed Toronto’s defense with a blend of scoring bursts and playmaking control.
If their combined output set the tone, Evan Mobley delivered the interior knockout. The big man poured in 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting, repeatedly finishing through contact and anchoring Cleveland’s dominance in the paint.
Harden’s night wasn’t just impactful- it was historic. He passed Rajon Rondo for seventh on the NBA’s all-time playoff assists list and climbed to 11th in playoff steals, inching closer to Manu Ginobili.
Congrats to @JHarden13 of the @cavs for moving up to 7th on the all-time playoff ASSISTS list! NBA Playoffs presented by @Google
He also recorded his 103rd career playoff game with 20+ points, moving ahead of John Havlicek on that list.
Turnovers continue to haunt Toronto
The same issue that plagued Toronto in Game 1 resurfaced- only worse. After committing 18 turnovers in the opener, the Raptors coughed it up 22 times in Game 2, including seven in the first quarter alone. Those mistakes repeatedly handed Cleveland easy transition opportunities and stalled any momentum.
Late in the fourth, a decisive 14–4 Cavaliers run slammed the door shut, turning a competitive game into a controlled finish.
Now the series shifts to Scotiabank Arena for Game 3, where Toronto will try to rediscover the form that helped them sweep the regular-season matchups. But unless they clean up the turnovers and get Ingram going, the uphill climb is only getting steeper.
