Cavs go up 2–0
- Cleveland has opened its series with a 2–0 lead over Toronto after another decisive win. (x.com) - Donovan Mitchell and James Harden have been the driving duo, dominating scoring and playmaking in both games. (x.com) - That 2–0 gap hands Cleveland leverage heading into Toronto’s Game 3 adjustments and rotation changes. (x.com)
Cleveland heads to Toronto with a 2-0 lead after beating the Raptors 115-105 in Game 2 on Monday, April 20. (apnews.com) Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points in Game 2, James Harden added 28, and Evan Mobley finished with 25 points and eight rebounds for Cleveland. Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 26 points. (espn.com) Game 1 was decisive too: Cleveland won 126-113 on Saturday, April 18, behind Mitchell’s 32 points and Max Strus’ 24 off the bench. The Cavaliers have now taken both home games at Rocket Arena before the series shifts north. (espn.com) The pairing at the center of this series is new. Harden arrived in Cleveland at the February 2026 trade deadline, and NBA.com called Game 2 the high-water mark so far for his backcourt fit with Mitchell. (nba.com, nba.com) Through two games, that backcourt has controlled the scoring load and much of the shot creation. NBA.com said Mitchell and Harden combined for 58 points in Game 2 after Cleveland built the series around their ability to attack the rim, draw fouls, and hit pull-up jumpers. (nba.com) Toronto’s pressure point is now Game 3 at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, April 23. ESPN’s schedule page lists the next game in Toronto, where the Raptors will try to avoid a 3-0 deficit. (espn.com) The Raptors are also searching for more from Brandon Ingram. After Game 2, coach Darko Rajakovic defended Ingram following a seven-point night on 3-of-15 shooting with five turnovers, according to Yahoo Sports. (sports.yahoo.com) Cleveland’s edge is simple going into Thursday: it has won twice, it has the two highest-impact guards in the series right now, and it has forced Toronto into adjustment mode before the scene changes. (apnews.com, nba.com)
