Carolina's Taylor Hall received a two-minute penalty for Thursday's hit, which sent Sanderson's helmet flying. Sanderson, who also blocked a shot with his hand, played two more shifts before heading down the tunnel during a power play.
Senators coach Travis Green told reporters that the hit to the head was what caused the defenseman to leave the game.
"I just don't understand how there's not a five-minute major called on the hit to the head," he said. "It's a blatant hit to the head, the kind of hits you don't want to see.
This is a brutal hit by Taylor Hall on Sanderson, which got two minutes for an illegal check to the head.
"It's ridiculous there wasn't a review. They called a review on (Senators captain) Brady (Tkachuk) on a penalty that I don't even know what the penalty was, and they totally miss a review on (Hall)."
Sanderson, who won a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics, was the Senators' top-scoring defenseman with 54 points in the regular season. He has two assists in the playoffs and played 43 minutes in Ottawa's double-overtime loss in Game 2.
The Senators lost 2-1 on Thursday and trail the best-of-seven series 3-0. They will try to stave off elimination at home on Saturday, April 25.
For a second straight season, the Ottawa Senators have opened the Stanley Cup Playoffs with three straight losses. They fell 2–1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, and now trail their first-round best-of-seven series three games to none.
Jackson Blake scored late in the second period to give Carolina a slim 2–1 advantage, but it somehow felt insurmountable on this night—much like a 5–1 game.
Blake scored just 1:23 after Drake Batherson had tied the game at one on a slick feed from Nick Cousins. That goal sent the Canadian Tire Centre crowd into a frenzy and should have given the Senators momentum heading into the second intermission.
But Blake’s goal absolutely sucked the life out of the building.
K’Andre Miller was left wide open at the left point and walked right in. Logan Stankoven drove hard to the net, knocking over Thomas Chabot, which left Blake all the time he needed to corral a cross-ice pass from Miller and bury it into the open net.
Stankoven had the other Canes' goal and now has three in as many games.
Taylor Hall helped set up both of Carolina’s goals, but his most damaging blow to the Senators was his direct headshot on defenceman Jake Sanderson. Sanderson tried to stay in the game but eventually left and did not return. Hall dropped a shoulder into Sanderson, making primary contact with the side of his head and creating the kind of rotational force that can often leads to more severe concussion symptoms.
In all likelihood, had Sanderson stayed down the way Jordan Martinook did later in the game after a collision with Brady Tkachuk, it might have led to a review and a major penalty for Hall.
Senators head coach Travis Green said he’d be shocked if the league doesn’t take further action.
“I just don’t understand how there’s not a five-minute major called on the hit to the head,” Green said. “It’s a blatant hit to the head. It’s the kind of hit you don’t want to see. I think it’s ridiculous there wasn’t a review. They call a review on Brady on a penalty that… I don’t even know what the penalty was.”
In reality, even if Hall had been assessed a more severe penalty, the Senators’ power play likely wouldn’t have capitalized. In the second period, Ottawa had five power-play chances, including a 5-on-3 for 1:28, and came away with nothing.
While it’s tempting for Senators fans to rip the team apart right now, it should also be noted that the Hurricanes are playing a different level of hockey. The Senators entered these playoffs likely prepared for a team like the 2024–25 Toronto Maple Leafs, but the 2026 Carolina Hurricanes are a different animal, playing an elevated, frustrating style of postseason hockey that Ottawa just hasn’t been able to match, despite its best efforts.
The Senators will try to avoid a four-game sweep on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
TORONTO — Scottie Barnes set career playoff highs with 33 points and 11 assists, RJ Barrett added a career playoff-high 33 points and the Toronto Raptors beat Cleveland 126-104 on Thursday night, snapping a 12-game playoff losing streak against the Cavaliers.
Collin Murray-Boyles had 22 points, Jamison Battle scored all of his 14 points in the final quarter and Brandon Ingram added 12 as the Raptors cut Cleveland’s lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series to 2-1.
Game 4 is Sunday afternoon in Toronto.
“We knew we needed everybody for this win and you’ve seen some big performances from everybody,” Barnes said. “It just goes to show how resilient, how bad we wanted it. We went out there and tried to do whatever it took.”
Barnes had five rebounds and shot 11 for 17, making 3 of 5 from distance and going 8 for 10 at the line. He had three fouls at halftime but didn’t pick up another the rest of the way.
“He did everything for us tonight,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said.
Murray-Boyles is the first Raptors rookie to score 20 or more in a playoff game.
“He’s not afraid of the moment,” Barrett said.
Up 83-81 after three quarters, Toronto pulled away by shooting 8 for 9 from 3–point range in the fourth, outscoring Cleveland 43-23. Battle went 4 for 4 from long range in the final period.
Barrett finished 6 for 8 from distance.
The Cavaliers matched the NBA postseason record for consecutive victories against a single opponent by winning Game 2 on Monday but couldn’t extend that run in Toronto.
James Harden scored 18 points while Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Max Strus all had 15.
Harden shot 5 for 13, going 3 for 10 from long range.
“They did a heck of a job,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said of Toronto’s defense on Harden. “They made him work.”
Mitchell shot 7 for 16 and went 1 for 7 from distance, while Mobley shot 4 for 13 and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.
Jaylon Tyson scored 13 points and Jarrett Allen had 12.
Toronto scored 23 points off 22 Cleveland turnovers.
Cleveland’s streak of playoff wins against Toronto began in the 2016 Eastern Conference finals, when the Cavaliers won the final three games. Cleveland swept Toronto in the second round in both 2017 and 2018.
Cleveland also has 12-game postseason winning streaks against Detroit and Atlanta. The Los Angeles Lakers won 12 consecutive playoff games against Seattle from 1980 through 1989.
Toronto guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring) remained out.
BOSTON — There were the three victories. There were the three losses for the Red Sox. There was pitching excellence. There were timely hits.
During a sweep at Fenway Park that included virtually only positives for the Yankees, among the club’s most encouraging developments was a possible breakthrough from Jazz Chisholm Jr.
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The talented second baseman went his first 21 games without a multihit game. Against the Red Sox, he went 2-for-3 in multihit games.
Chisholm did not launch a home run in his first 23 games, but in the series finale, he wrapped a shot around the Pesky Pole, allowing him to exhale.
In three games, he spiked his OPS from .498 to .556. And in the final game, he felt as if he found what had been troubling him by backing away from the plate and assuming a more closed-off stance.
“I feel like I’ve been opening a little bit, and I feel like that helped me close up a little bit and just backing off [the plate],” Chisholm said after the stance tweak immediately paid off in the 4-2 victory Thursday.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. belts a solo homer during the fifth inning of the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Red Sox on April 23, 2026 at Fenway Park. Jason Szenes for New York Post
A day prior, Chisholm felt his more open stance and crowding the plate was leading him to flare balls to left rather than drive them.
After the adjustments, the lefty swinger pulled an inside fastball from lefty Payton Tolle and snuck it around the right field pole in the fifth inning.
In the seventh, he singled hard to center against lefty Danny Coulombe. In the eighth, he grounded into a 103.8 mph force-out against lefty Tyler Samaniego.
“Probably his best group of at-bats, especially off some tough lefty matchups there,” manager Aaron Boone said of Chisholm, who went 2-for-4 with a strikeout and two runs scored. “So good to see that.”
Asked if the lack of home runs was on his mind, Chisholm smiled and said, “I wouldn’t say home runs was on my mind — it would be hits.” But he was not overly concerned because it is still only April.
Nonetheless, Chisholm is hitting .188, and his one home run in 24 games does not put him on pace for the 50 he has said he wants to hit by the end of the season. During a walk year, he and the Yankees would have preferred a better start.
But Chisholm’s April last season was his worst month of what became an All-Star season. Perhaps he takes time to get going. Perhaps he needed a couple tweaks to get going.
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. reacts as he rounds third base after he connects on a solo home run against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning at Fenway Park in Boston. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
“I tend to have a couple problems early in the season,” Chisholm said. “But at the end of the day, it feels good to finally get one [homer] in there.”
With windy conditions playing a noticeable role throughout the night, Mizzou fell to Arkansas, marking their eighth straight loss despite a strong outing from starting pitcher Josh McDevitt and an explosive start at the plate.
“We have to play better baseball,” head coach Kerrick Jackson said. “We can’t make some of the mistakes that we make, and then, more importantly, when they make mistakes, we have to be able to capitalize off of it. We don’t have to do anything over the top. We don’t have to be heroes. We just have to play good baseball.”
Tee Off at Taylor night featured a giveaway golf hat, and the Tigers came out hot early.
Offense Struck Early
Jase Woita, batting leadoff for the second time this season, swung at a first-pitch strike and blasted a home run to left field. Kam Durnin followed with a hit-by-pitch, and freshman Blaize Ward continued his recent surge with a two-run shot to left, making it 3-0 Mizzou in just four pitches, and his third home run in five games.
On the mound, McDevitt started strong, working through early trouble in the first inning with bases loaded by recording two strikeouts to limit the damage. He settled in from there, adding two more strikeouts in the second and throwing a clean 1-2-3 third inning.
Arkansas began to respond as the game progressed. After being held mostly quiet, TJ Pompey launched his tenth home run of the season to right field in the fifth, cutting the lead to 3-1.
McDevitt continued to deal, tying his season-high in strikeouts during the fifth, before ultimately setting a new career high with 11 in the seventh inning. However, after he exited with two runners on, Trey Lawrence allowed a hit up the middle that tied the game 3-3.
Arkansas starter Hunter Dietz finished with eight strikeouts, allowing seven hits and three runs over seven innings.
Where it All Slipped Away
Momentum quickly shifted in the eighth when Zack Steward hit a two-run homer to right field, giving Arkansas a 5-3 lead, with the wind again playing a factor in balls traveling to the outfield.
Offensively, the Tigers cooled off after their fast start. Woita added a second hit, and Pierre Seals and Cameron Benson each contributed singles, but Mizzou struggled to string together runs late.
In the ninth, Ian Lohse delivered a scoreless inning to keep Mizzou within reach, which was the first time for him since February.
Mateo Serna walked and later scored on a groundout by Donovan Jordon, who pinch hit for Keegan Knutson, cutting the deficit to 5-4. However, Tyler Macon who pinch hit for Isaiah Frost, struck out to end the game.
What’s Next
Mizzou will look to bounce back in their next matchup against Arkansas at 7 p.m. Friday, April 23, hoping to snap their losing streak.
“I still firmly believe that this team hasn’t synced up,” Woita said. “Our best baseball when the staff’s been on, the hitters have been off, vice versa, so I firmly believe that we can hang with anybody in the country when we’re playing our best baseball. I’m just excited for the chance to go out and do that again.”
With Brady Kehlenbrink taking the mound tomorrow, it will be a game worth watching.
ATLANTA — CJ McCollum hit a fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds left to ruin New York’s night again, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 109-108 victory and a 2-1 lead over the Knicks in their first-round playoff series on Thursday night.
After starring in a Game 2 stunner at Madison Square Garden, McCollum got the ball with his team trailing by a point. He came through again from 15 feet, finishing with 23 points.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder called it “a great shot,” but stressed the effort of his entire team.
“They work, they share,” Snyder said. “That’s the thing about this group that I’ve enjoyed so much.”
The Hawks led nearly the entire game, building an 18-point lead in the first half. But New York rallied for a 108-105 edge on Jalen Brunson’s three-point play with 1:03 remaining.
After Jalen Johnson, who led the Hawks with 24 points, rolled in a shot, Josh Hart missed a 3-pointer for the Knicks. New York got the offensive rebound, but couldn’t get off a shot ahead of the 24-second clock.
“You couldn’t ask for anything better than that,” Knicks coach Mike Brown lamented. “Less than a minute to go in the game and a chance to go up by three.”
The Knicks failed to get off a shot at the end, either, as Brunson turned the ball over and the horn sounded.
Jonathan Kuminga had a huge night for the Hawks off the bench, finishing with 21 points.
OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 29 points, Brunson had 26 and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 21. It wasn’t enough for New York.
Brown griped about the officiating, believing the refs missed some calls at the basket. But he stressed that his team must make better decisions going forward.
Game 4 is Saturday in Atlanta.
“They’re closing out hard,” Brown said of the Hawks. ”It’s a tough game for the officials to officiate, but I know we got fouled on a few of the tries that didn’t get called.”
McCollum picked up where he left off at Madison Square Garden, hitting a step-back jumper beyond the arc for Atlanta’s first points. He had 16 by the halftime break.
McCollum showed off more than his offensive skills. After Hart scooped up a loose ball and drove toward the hoop with only the Atlanta guard to beat, McCollum blocked the shot and sent the ball off Hart’s foot to give possession back to the Hawks.
The Hawks outscored the Knicks 27-12 over the final seven minutes of the opening quarter, turning the game in their favor with an 11-0 spurt and closing the period with three straight 3-pointers. The first was by little-used center Mouhamed Gueye, left wide open by the New York defense, followed by two straight from backup forward Kuminga to send the State Farm Arena crowd into a frenzy.
But, with the Hawks on the verge of blowing the game open late in the first half, New York closed the period on a 12-2 run. Atlanta went to the locker room with a 58-50 lead.
He lasted 1.1 IP after allowing one run on five walks, including 18 strikes on 43 pitches, in his return from Tommy John surgery.
"It was great to get out there with the team," the 26-year-old RHP said after Thursday's 10-8 win at Citi Field. "First, unbelievable job by the offense today, grinding out at-bats through all nine innings, did a great job against all their arms. Bullpen did a really good job, too ... I didn't do my job, but they did their job and that's why we're here with a win today."
Scott struck out Byron Buxton to start the game before walking four of his next six batters and allowing a two-out run on Austin Martin's bases-loaded walk.
A four-pitch walk to start the second inning against Brooks Lee was followed by a fly out, but a balk and a hit batter on an 0-2 count forced manager Carlos Mendoza's hand.
"He didn't have command," Mendoza said. "Couldn't throw the ball over the plate. The velo was there, but he lost the strike zone. It got kind of hard on him after that."
Before debuting for New York (9-16) against Minnesota (12-13), Scott made three starts with Triple-A Syracuse. After a rough first outing, he rebounded in his subsequent two performances.
"I didn't really have a good feel for anything today," Scott said. "The fastball was up a lot, cutter was up a lot. Try to make adjustments in the zone and start nibbling. Got away from being competitive in the strike zone like I am. Wasn't at my best, so learn from it, move on and turn the page."
His last MLB start was July 21, 2024. He logged 47.1 IP over nine starts, pitching to a 4.56 ERA and 1.20 WHIP and showing flashes as one of the Mets' top prospects.
"I don't think so," Scott said when asked if nerves factored into Thursday's outing. "I was definitely excited to be here, for sure. ... Once I started walking two or three guys, starting to nibble a little bit, start placing the ball in the strike zone instead of being confident with my stuff in the strike zone -- wasn't really who I am as a pitcher. So learn from it, move on and I trust my stuff. I have a lot of confidence that I belong here, so I've just got to do a better job of showing that and take advantage of the opportunities I get.
Scott will get another start "as of right now, yes," Mendoza said. However, the Mets' pitching options are in flux after the bullpen went 7.2 innings on Thursday.
"We've got to go back here and see where we're at as far as bullpen for the next few days after being aggressive the past few days here and how much we use those guys," Mendoza said. "... He's going to continue to get opportunities. He's a big part of this team, and he'll be all right."
Scott would be in line to start next Wednesday at the Washington Nationals.
"I feel like we're past the 'checkpoints' part, really," Scott said. "I'm just trying to go out there and compete and get as many wins as we possibly can. I felt great physically, so that's definitely not it -- that's the reason why what happened today. ... Learn from it, move on and bounce back."
Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II exited Thursday’s game in the seventh inning after experiencing left quad tightness. Fortunately, the move was only precautionary and Harris is expected to be on the lineup card tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Harris had a huge series against the Washington Nationals, where he logged six hits, two of them leaving the ballpark. He also recorded six RBI and did not strike out once. The Braves will hope he can carry that momentum into another strong performance this series.
More Braves News:
JR Ritchie’s MLB debut started horribly but shaped up to be spectacular. He went on to throw seven innings, allowed two runs, two walks, and struck out seven.
Tate Southisene knocked a leadoff homer during Wednesday’s GreenJackets game. More in the minor league recap.
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie (20) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Can someone explain to me how the Houston Rockets are 9.5-point favorites tonight in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers?
Sure, I get that the game is in Houston. The Rockets are in desperation mode after dropping the first two games in LA. Role players almost always play better at home than on the road in the playoffs. The Lakers have shot exceptionally well while the Rockets have…not.
Yet all of those factors pale in the shadow of truth that the Rockets just aren’t a good basketball team right now. The problems are everywhere, including coaching, effort, basketball intelligence, and ability.
The Lakers come into this game (and Sunday’s) playing with house money. Thanks to a media blitz relieving them of all pressure heading into the postseason, just winning two games in this series has allowed them to have fun and be free. They are feeling the effects of having zero expectations. Meanwhile, Houston is in an embarrassing position after losing two games against an undermanned Lakers squad missing their two best players. Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard have turned into superstars and the Lakers have collectively decided that missing three pointers is so last year.
So what has actually changed between Games 2 and 3? How is Houston such a heavy favorite when all the evidence says they should be serious underdogs? And that doesn’t include the potential return of Austin Reaves (who is questionable) or the lack of Kevin Durant (also questionable). The Rockets haven’t been swept in a playoff series since 1996. That could change by Sunday.
ATLANTA — The Knicks have a Mitchell Robinson dilemma.
Not with his production, though that also wasn’t strong during the Knicks’ Game 3 loss Thursday at State Farm Arena. But rather with his ability to play well with Karl-Anthony Towns while sharing the court.
And with Towns scoring 21 points and helping carry the Knicks’ offense down the stretch, that meant Robinson finished with just 11 minutes, two points and four rebounds during their 109-108 loss — and didn’t play for the final 9:25.
“We need something from everybody, and the reality of what happened was — we ended up going with KAT. KAT played a significant amount of minutes for us because he was rolling in that second half,” head coach Mike Brown said, when asked specifically about Robinson — who wasn’t available after the game.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) slam the ball for his lone two points of Game 3 on April 23, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
It served as a stark contrast to Robinson’s Game 2, when he finished with 12 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting and seven rebounds. That was the blueprint.
That was a blend of rebounding — his strength — and what he could provide on offense, too.
But three nights later, that disappeared. His lone basket occurred with just under four minutes remaining in the first half, when Jalen Brunson hit him on a roll to the basket. Robinson didn’t attempt a free throw the entire game, either.
The Hawks didn’t need to use the hack-a-Mitch strategy when he wasn’t on the court late in the half to begin with.
Brown talked about the lingering issue pregame, too — with how Robinson and Towns have struggled to share the court together — and how one of the only ways for Robinson to play more is to have Towns on the bench.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0). AP
“The combination of the two of them right now hasn’t been great,” Brown said beforehand, “and so I’m choosing to not play them together right now during the series a lot because of the matchups and stuff like that. At the end of the day, it’s a choice.”
BOSTON — During Cam Schlittler’s Fenway Park debut Thursday — his first game pitching against the Red Sox since his dominant playoff start, after which he revealed that venom from Boston fans both irritated and motivated him, a Massachusetts kid turning heel against his childhood favorite team — Red Sox fans treated him the same way their team’s bats treated Yankees pitching:
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Sure, Schlittler was booed and heard typical jabs from hecklers before and during the 4-2 victory that finished off a sweep, but the type of poison that he said he heard online before Thursday did not show itself in person.
“You [underestimate] how many genuine people are out there compared to online,” Schlittler said after stymieing the Red Sox for eight innings in which he let up two runs (one earned).
Before the game, the Yankees’ talented right-hander walked from the visiting dugout to right field, where he stretched, before entering the bullpen hearing more applause than boos.
One young fan held up a sign reading, “Walpole [hearts] Schlittler,” and Yankees fans outnumbered Red Sox fans in the area a half hour before first pitch.
Cam Schlittler, who picked up his third win of the season, held the Red Sox to two runs over eight strong innings in the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Red Sox on April 23, 2026 at Fenway Park. Jason Szenes / New York Post
It was helpful for Schlittler that Red Sox fans might be angrier at their own team, which has begun the season poorly and scored three runs in the three-game series, than at Schlittler.
“I think [the Red Sox] not scoring a lot or mounting a lot necessarily kind of took [away] a little bit of that angst that you get from playing at Fenway, which can be so tough,” said manager Aaron Boone, who did not find the atmosphere to be hostile. “So, he did a good job of not giving them a lot to rally about.”
Schlittler said this week that he and his family have received death threats from Red Sox fans who “kind of hate me.” That hate was not apparent face to face, the most biting comment heard from the bleachers outside the bullpen perhaps being, “Mr. Walpole, forget where you came from?”
There also were fans who yelled “ball” or “single” or “home run” after each warmup pitch, standard fare for any visiting pitcher at a ballpark. The boos reserved for Aaron Judge during the lineup announcement drowned out the boos for Schlittler.
After retiring the side, Schlittler returned to a dugout that was surrounded by Yankees fans.
Red Sox fans watch Cam Schlittler throw in the bullpen before the Yankees’ win over the Red Sox on April 23, 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post
“For the most part, [fans were] really respectful,” Schlittler said. “And a lot of Yankees fans here.”
The Yankees were prepared for worse. Their three pitching coaches — Matt Blake, Preston Claiborne and Desi Druschel — stood behind Schlittler during his bullpen warmup, ensuring they were between Schlittler and any overzealous fan. Their director of team security followed Schlittler from the dugout to the bullpen and hovered in right field, in the vicinity just in case. Fenway Park security did not allow fans to loiter in the stands around the bullpen without a ticket.
Schlittler facing off against the Red Sox has the potential to reinvigorate the rivalry, and his October brilliance and ensuing openness in punching back at overaggressive Boston fans rekindled a spark.
But the Red Sox, who fell to 9-16, and their fans have bigger issues than antagonizing Schlittler, who acknowledged the atmosphere felt tamer than he expected.
Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) puts up a shot as Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) defends.
ATLANTA — Josh Hart delivered his first playoff dud — at least scoring-wise — at the worst time.
For the opening two games, he was consistent for the Knicks. Entering the postseason, his 3-point shooting was something that could make the difference down the stretch — just like it did against the Celtics late in the regular season.
He finished 1-for-9 shooting at State Farm Arena and missed all four of his 3-pointers. Hart still produced nine rebounds, six assists and played strong defense on CJ McCollum after he was switched onto him in the second half, but when his scoring faltered, it left the Knicks too dependent on Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.
Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) puts up a shot as Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) defends on April 23, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I mean, yeah, they just didn’t go,” Hart said. “… I gotta make them.”
This has become a recurring issue for Hart throughout the first-round series, too. He entered Thursday with just one made 3-pointer, despite hitting a career-best 41.3 percent of his shots from beyond the arc during the regular season.
He had a bad turnover in transition late in the first quarter, as he dribbled the ball off his leg and out of bounds, and his only basket occurred with 7:35 remaining — when Towns fed him a pass and he deposited it through the net.
If there was a silver lining for Hart, and a glimmer of hope for the Knicks, too, Mike Brown switched him onto McCollum at the start of the second half, and Hart was effective in limiting the Hawks’ star — who erupted for 32 points in Game 1 and another 16 in the opening half Thursday — when matched up with him.
“I just tried to make it tough for him,” Hart said. “That was the biggest thing, just try to make it tough for him, force him into tough shots.”
But the ineffectiveness on offense will sting. And the 3-point shooting — and his specifically — has quickly become a Knicks problem.
“I feel like we had good shots,” Hart said. “We didn’t knock them down.”
TORONTO, ON - April 23 In second half action, RJ Barrett (9) of the Toronto Raptors gets mixed up with Jarrett Allen (31) of the Cleveland CavaliersThe Toronto Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-104 in game 3 of the first round of the playoffs in NBA basketball action at the Scotiabank Arena. April 23 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers got run off the floor in Game 3 against the Toronto Raptors.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
15 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 turnovers
Mitchell didn’t do enough tonight. Simple as that.
It’s unusual to see Mitchell so uninvolved in a playoff game. The Raptors aggressively denied him the ball — and neither the Cavs nor Mitchell seemed overly willing to challenge that. They instead allowed Toronto to dictate the terms of engagement, keeping Mitchell off the board with just 15 points on 16 shot attempts.
All the while, he was targeted in the pick-and-roll by Toronto’s offense. He didn’t fare very well there, either.
Grade: F
James Harden
18 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 8 turnovers
You’ve seen this type of game before from Harden.
More turnovers than field goals made is painful. Not hustling back after turning it over is worse. Harden’s defense was bad, and for the first time in Cleveland, his offense didn’t even come close to making up for it.
Mobely was able to feast in Game 2 as a result of Mitchell and Harden breaking down the defense and then feeding him with an advantage.
Tonight, however, Scottie Barnes expertly denied Harden the ball in the backcourt. That forced Mobley to bring the ball up the floor and create for himself more than at any other point in the series.
The results weren’t awful, with Mobley dishing 7 assists and actually finding a brief groove in the second half. But that moment was fleeting — and most of those possessions ended in a drained shot clock with nothing to show for.
Worse, I think this was one of the least impactful defensive games of Mobley’s career. He was shockingly absent while the Raptors scored 60 points in the paint.
Grade: D
Jarrett Allen
12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks
The Cavs can’t afford for Allen to slip now. He’s been crucial to their success all season, but is once again looking like an afterthought as the team jacks three-pointers and stretches him too thin defensively by asking him to cover for an unreasonable amount of breakdowns.
It didn’t help that Allen himself seemed lethargic tonight, too. A recipe for yuck.
Grade: F
Dean Wade
5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal
Finally, something decent to talk about.
Wade’s still a non-threat on offense. And that has constricted their ability to generate clean looks as the Raptors are starting to ignore him in favor of packing the paint. Those drive-and-kicks to Wade almost always end in a swing pass before resetting the offense. The guy just doesn’t want to shoot.
That said, Wade remains a bright spot defensively and was crushing the Raptors with his offensive rebounding. Wade’s ceiling is clearly defined, but he did all of the floor-raising things tonight to justify his minutes.
Grade: C+
Max Strus
15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Strus could sense trouble in the water. He entered the game and immediately began firing away, briefly swinging the momentum and finishing with 15 points on 4-8 three-point shooting.
I really don’t have anything bad to say. Strus unloaded the clip and did so efficiently. This one wasn’t on him.
Grade: B+
Keon Ellis
0 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover
Ellis has only made one shot so far in this series. He didn’t even attempt one tonight. The margin for error is getting too thin to keep him on the floor. Not to mention, his defense continues to fall by the wayside. Ellis takes some extremely questionable angles when navigating screens — and the Raptors have figured that out.
Grade: D–
Jaylon Tyson
13 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds,
Tyson was one of the only other bright spots. He’s finally dispatched those ‘first playoff’ jitters and is playing like the version of himself that we saw in the regular season. Tyson shot 3-6 from downtown and had a few shots rattle in and out. The Cavs would love for him to continue playing like this.
Grade: B
Sam Merrill
3 points, 3 rebounds
Toronto has totally taken Merrill off the board. He just can’t find any daylight. And trust me, this is a player who doesn’t need much room to get a shot off. The fact that he only attempted two three-pointers in 18 minutes tells you everything you need to know about the Raptors’ defensive game plan.
Grade: D+
Dennis Schroder
3 points, 1 rebound, 3 turnovers
Yeesh.
Three turnovers in five minutes is enough to stay on the bench for the rest of the game series.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 23: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Playoff basketball has returned to Toronto! After losing the first two games of the series in Cleveland, the Raptors returned to Scotiabank Arena to try to get a game on the board and keep their playoff hopes alive. It’s been a little bit of a rough series for Toronto — turnovers, offensive droughts, injury — but bringing the series home always shakes things up a little bit. That’s what the Raptors were banking on, anyway.
After a little bit of a rough start — a few early fouls for Scottie Barnes, another quiet night from Brandon Ingram, some turnovers — the Raptors finally seemed to settle into the game. In a fourth-quarter push fuelled by Jamison Battle’s impressive shooting, RJ Barrett’s love for the city of Toronto, and Barnes being a menace, the Raptors made Bay Street rock as they secured their first big lead of the series.
Ultimately, the Raptors got the win 126-104 over the Cavaliers to win game three, bringing the series to 2-1 and avoiding putting themselves in an elimination situation.
There were so many impressive things from this game.
Scottie Barnes plays most impactful game of his career
Barnes was everywhere for the Raptors in their win in game three, cementing likely his most important game since coming into the NBA. Wherever the team needed him, he was there. He scored 33 points and had 11 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block while shooting 11-for-17 from the field.
“Nothing surprised me,” Darko Rajakovic said about Scottie’s night. “I know he’s going to put everything out there for his team to win a game.”
Games like this are why Barnes has been given the keys to lead this team. When he plays like this, he’s an unstoppable force that can shift the energy of a series. He puts the team on his back and leads by example.
When it came to what was in Barnes’s mind through that game he mentioned they were trying to “focus on one possession at a time, we were playing so hard… control what we can control and live with the results.”
That energy will be needed on Sunday if the Raptors want to even out their series on Sunday.
“We got a lot more, we need to keep making adjuments,” Barnes said, “We have so much we can improve, we still have a lot of work to do.”
RJ Barrett represents for the home team
First playoff game in Toronto for the kid from Mississauga, and did he ever show out for it. He joined Barnes in scoring 33 points in the game, along with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block while shooting 12-for-19 from the field.
“I know he was very exited to play a game in front of home crowd,” Rajakovic said about Barrett after the game. “I know he gave it all, all his preparation — he did extra work to put himself in a position to help the team win.”
The crowd was giving him the support he needed in the second half as he went nuclear to help the Raptors expand the lead and take a 10+ point lead.
“That was great, energy in the building was crazy,” Barrett said after the fact, “they definitely helped us out.”
With Ingram struggling to find his rhythm in this series, Barrett absolutely needed to step up in order for the Raptors to have any chance of winning this game. This game and how he handled the moment might change the trajectory of his career as he becomes extension eligible this summer.
Jamison Battle loves playing the Cavaliers
Jamison Battle checked into this game in the second half and just went off, shooting 100% from three and 100% from the field. He was a huge part of the momentum shift in the second half that sent the Raptors on a run that would ultimately win them the game.
The funny part is, he did something very similar when the Raptors played the Cavaliers back near the beginning of the season.
“Ultimate professional, always keeps himself ready, always putting in the work,” Rajakovic said of Battle’s contributions to the team.
“He’s been ready whenever his name is called, we are not surpised but happy to have him on out side,” RJ Barrett added.
The work is far from over though, as the Raptors are still down 2-1 in the series. They have another home game on Sunday before heading back to Cleveland for game five. If they are able to win Sunday’s game and even the series 2-2, that will also guarantee another game in Toronto for game six. If the Raptors keep playing like they did in the final stretch of tonight’s game, there is definitely a chance for that to happen.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 23: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers took a blow in their first game on the road against the Toronto Raptors.
Let’s go over today’s losers, because there are no winners. Except the Tyson family, who deserve an honorary shout-out.
LOSER – Turnovers
Let’s start by setting the table. Or, like the Cavs, by spilling things all over the place and causing a mess.
Cleveland opened this game with nine turnovers in the first quarter. That’s enough to break your back in the NBA Playoffs. The Cavs somehow managed to weather the storm and stay within two possessions at the end of the quarter — but it set the stage for how poorly things would go.
Every potential run from the Cavaliers was met by these self-inflicted errors. That’s not to take anything away from the Raptors, whose length and athleticism contributed directly to those turnovers, but throwing the ball into the third row (like James Harden did in the second half) is something most NBA players can avoid.
“I didn’t think our spacing was great,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game. “Crowding the paint on our drives… they decided they really want to pack it, and I felt like we were trying to thread the needle too much trying to pass it in there.”
Dennis Schroder played five minutes in the first half. He turned it over three times in that stint and didn’t play the rest of the game.
Harden finished with a game-high 8 turnovers. That was his first playoff game with as many turnovers since 2019, when he was with the Houston Rockets. Some of his more careless giveaways were tough to watch. Though again, Toronto deserves credit for swarming him and making life a living hell.
The Raptors forced Cleveland into 20 turnovers overall. They took those for 23 points off turnovers. That was more than enough to erase any marginal advantage the Cavs had gained on the offensive glass (16-11). The truth is, if you give up that many possessions, you lose the game more often than not.
LOSER – The Paint
Much will be made of the Cavaliers’ three-point defense in this game. Trust me, anyone who has read FTS this season has heard plenty of complaints about how this team has defended the perimeter.
But while Toronto shot 14-23 (60%) from downtown in Game 3, the Cavs matched them in lockstep with 14 makes of their own. What truly buried the Cavs was Toronto’s dominance in the paint, outscoring Cleveland 60-40 in the restricted area.
Scottie Barnes bruised them for 33 points on 8-12 shooting from two-point range. RJ Barrett and Collin Murray Boyles joined in on the fun, combining for 55 points while shooting 17-26 inside the arc.
Meanwhile, the Cavs relied almost entirely on their outside shot. Cleveland took 45 three-point attempts and only 36 shots inside the arc. Harden, Mitchell, and Mobley took a combined 42 shot attempts, half coming from the three-point line, where they shot 4-21.
That’s the difference.
“He [Boyles] is a warrior, to be honest with you,” said Raptors’ coach Darko Rajakovic after the game. “I thought he had a high-level performance tonight and I contribute that to the power of his will.”
Toronto’s hot shooting obviously opened the floor for them to dominate the paint. Cleveland’s bigs, especially, started to drift further out to the three-point line at the cost of giving easier drives to the basket for the Raptors. I’d say they should have stuck to the game plan and walled off the interior — but the Raptors simply couldn’t miss, so I can’t fully blame the Cavs for overreacting and trying to stay within range of three-point shooters.
Nonetheless, Cleveland should be winning the battle of the paint. You can’t always control whether your opponent will catch fire from downtown. But you can control the paint. Mobley and Allen weren’t impactful enough tonight, even with their four blocks. Harden and Mitchell were also tested, routinely being put into Toronto’s actions and failing to meet the moment.
The Raptors won’t replicate their 60% three-point shooting again. At least, I wouldn’t expect them to. But I have no reason to believe they can’t replicate what they did in the paint.
The Cavs have to work harder in this regard or risk going back home with a tied series.
LOSER – 4th Quarter Battle
After (somehow) keeping this game close for 40 minutes, everything I mentioned finally came back to bite the Cavs in the fourth quarter.
Jamison Battle jumped off the bench and nailed four-of-four three-point attempts. Barrett doused more gasoline on the fire while Barnes and CMB repeatedly forced the Cavaliers to launch their own three-point shots to no avail. Controlling the paint, nailing three-pointers, and forcing turnovers was the path to victory for Toronto.
What followed was a 43-23 thrashing in the fourth quarter.
I think it’s worth reiterating that the Cavs did have this game within range before that final blow. It was a two-point game going into the final frame — and genuinely, nothing about the style of the previous 36 minutes was dramatically different from the closing 12.
In other words, you could look at this game from two different perspectives. Glass half full? The Cavs played poorly, Toronto was red-hot, and yet the game was still within reach for most of the night.
Half empty? The Raptors showed they can dictate the terms of engagement for 48 minutes and have a spark going into Game 4.
“We’ll bounce back,” said Aktinson. “This is part of the playoffs, it’s part of the process.”
